COVID-19 Safety
covid-19 STATE GUIDANCE
Kennewick School District is committed to the safety of our students, staff, families, visitors, and volunteers by following all of the current health and safety requirements from the Washington State Department of Health to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It is recommended that students and staff who show symptoms of COVID-19 stay home and get tested for COVID-19.
Masks are optional in schools, buses and other school district buildings. We are committed to ensuring that individual rights and decisions are respected. Whether or not to wear a mask is an individual decision, and no one should make assumptions or comments regarding someone’s beliefs or health status. Free masks are available at the front office in each building.
Current Requirements
- The district will report COVID-19 outbreaks and/or suspected outbreaks to the Benton-Franklin Health District and work with the Benton-Franklin Health District to mitigate spread. (DOH)
- The definition of outbreak is currently 5 or more cases (or 20% of a group) within a 7-day window that are epidemiologically linked and do not have other known outside exposure. (DOH)
- The district is required to keep contagious employees with COVID-19 out of the workplace or implement effective controls to mitigate transmission (i.e., masking of the contagious employee, physical distancing, etc.). (L&I)
- The district must report COVID-19 hospitalizations and fatalities DOSH. (L&I)
- The district must record work-related COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities on the OSHA 300 log. (L&I)
- Healthcare workers and others providing care or working near someone known or suspected to have COVID-19 should wear appropriate, fit-tested, and NIOSH-approved respirators. (L&I)
If you have questions regarding COVID-19 and the latest guidance, please contact your school nurse.
Testing
Community members who have COVID-19 symptoms or are a close contact of someone who has tested positive may get tested at any of the Community Testing Sites.
COVID-19 vaccinations remain the best protection for everyone against hospitalization and severe disease from COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children 6 months and older. Booster doses are also available for children 5 years and older.
Resources
What To Do If You Have Symptoms, Washington State Department of Health (Updated Feb. 7, 2023)