REDMOND, OR -- Local summer school programs are grappling with the current rise in COVID-19 and the higher rate of spread due to the BA.5 sub-variant.  State Health Officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger says the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education recommends what they call layered mitigation strategies, "We’ve worked with schools to increase ventilation in settings; they have funds available to them and many have done that either through systemic changes or through portable filtration systems. Vaccinations are required for staff and adults in these settings and we encourage vaccination of students in these settings."

There are no state mask requirements for schools; decisions are now left to local districts. But Dr. Sidelinger believes some students should wear them, "Masks still remain a critically important point, particularly for those most at risk for complications. And ODE and OHA, in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend implementing universal masking at a time when spread of COVID is high in communities."

Currently, 19 Oregon counties are considered at the “high” community level by the CDC. On Thursday, Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties moved back to high, according to the lastest data from the CDC. Redmond Schools Superintendent Charan Cline tells KBND News he doesn’t expect his district will require masks when summer school begins August first, "We have always followed the health department’s recommendations or requirements as we go through that. In a situation like this, we will really just pass on the recommendations to the parents." He believes other measures will be effective in keeping COVID out of classrooms, "We’re excluding people if they’re sick, just like we have been - following health department policies. We’re offering tests for all staff members and students, at least weekly. We’re recommending people test if they’re feeling sick." He says they've also improved ventilation systems, where necessary.

Dr. Sidelinger says, "When a community reaches that high level of spread, we send a letter to the Superintendents in counties, as well as local public health officials, to remind them to go back and review guidance and implement as many layered mitigation strategies as possible." 

Dr. Cline says his district will follow CDC guidelines and health department recommendations, "This new variant - this BA.5 variant - is highly transmissible. It appears it kind of gets through everything. So, we’re going to do our best to keep people healthy. I think our biggest tool really is that if people are sick, they need to stay home and they need to test until they’re not sick."

Bend-La Pine Schools tells KBND News the district would consider a school-wide or district-wide mandate only if deemed necessary to keep schools open during a surge.

The OHA does not anticipate any new state mandates for schools in the fall.