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Return to Learn Addendum #1 9/11/2020

Note: This addendum to the Return to Learn document, which was published on August 14, 2020, contains additional information and very important updates regarding the reopening of our schools. Additional addendums will be published as circumstances change and new information becomes available.

Use of Metrics to Guide School Openings and Closings

The following information has been provided by DESE:

There has been much discussion about COVID-19 health and safety metrics that can be helpful guidelines for when schools re-open this school year. Such metrics should serve as a guide as to whether schools should open using full-time in-person, hybrid, or remote models, and will also support future decision-making if the impact of COVID-19 requires us to switch between educational models throughout the school year.

Each Wednesday, the Department of Public Health releases its Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report that contains critical metrics for each municipality. There is now a color-coded indication posted for each municipality calculated on a rolling two-week basis.

■ Red will designate communities with more than 8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

■ Yellow will designate communities that have more than 4 and up to 8 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

■ Green will designate communities that have 4 or fewer COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents.

■ Unshaded will designate communities with small populations and fewer than 5 cases within the last 14 days.

■ Because the impact of the virus is local, the concept of this particular COVID-19 health/safety designation is focused on the municipal level.