NEW: Rhode Island COVID-19 guidelines for schools

Gov. McKee and the RI Department of Education on Thursday announced new COVID-19 guidance for Pre-K-12 schools which adopts the latest CDC guidance and will protect the health of school communities while keeping students in school.

“My Administration has been committed to keeping students in the classroom where they are safest and where they learn best, and we’re taking steps to make sure that continues,” said Governor McKee. “We’re following the CDC and making changes to our school guidance that uses the existing capacities in schools, while prioritizing approaches based on data and the evolving surge in cases. Every student deserves a full, in-person education, and these new guidelines will help us ensure that COVID-19 does not disrupt their learning.”

When students return to school Monday, January 10, new guidelines will be effective which 1) shortens isolation and quarantine for students, 2) streamlines contact tracing, 3) details Monitor to Stay, 4) Waive requirement for test result for close contacts.

Here are the details: