[Wsssc] FW: DOH guidance document updated

[Joe Holliday]

Good morning, colleagues. See updated DOH guidance, below. Joe


From: SSEM <ssem-bounces at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:ssem-bounces at lists.ctc.edu>> On Behalf Of Laura McDowell via SSEM
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2022 2:46 PM
To: Public Information Commission (PIC) - WA CTC only <pio at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:pio at lists.ctc.edu>>; ssem at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:ssem at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: James Jolly <James.Jolly at skagit.edu<mailto:James.Jolly at skagit.edu>>; Tracy Klem <tracy.klem at wwcc.edu<mailto:tracy.klem at wwcc.edu>>; Megan Kaptik <megan.kaptik at bellevuecollege.edu<mailto:megan.kaptik at bellevuecollege.edu>>
Subject: [SSEM] DOH guidance document updated

Good afternoon everyone. This message is going to the Public Information Commission, the Safety Security and Emergency Management Council, and other COVID policy planners.

On Friday, the Department of health released updated COVID-19 guidance<https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/HigherEducation.pdf> for higher education institutions. A couple of things to know:


  *   For colleges that require student vaccinations, there are no big changes. For the most part, the new version simply includes helpful, updated links to COVID resources.
  *   For colleges that do not require student vaccinations* there is one big change. The document includes a new sentence/provision which removes the 3-foot social distancing requirement: "All non-fully vaccinated campuses must continue to follow the requirements of proclamation 20-12.5. Physical distancing requirements for non-fully vaccinated campuses, however, may align with current CDC guidance<https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0811-covid-guidance.html>." As you might recall, updated guidance from the CDC this month deemphasizes distancing at this stage of the pandemic.  This post by Channel 5 news<https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/cdc-new-covid-guidelines-here-are-the-top-changes-to-know/2914256/> has a good summary of how CDC guidelines changed. The Seattle Times<https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/cdc-drops-quarantine-screening-recommendations-for-covid-19/> covered the changes as well.
     *   Of course, now the higher ed proclamation<https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/proclamations/proc_20-12.5.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery> says one thing and the DOH guidance another. However, it is clear in conversations between higher ed leaders and the Governor's Office that the intent was to remove the 3-foot mandate and instead refer to the CDC's new guidance.

SBCTC and other higher ed leaders continue to make the case to revoke or modify the higher ed proclamation. At this point, we have no indication that this will happen in time for fall quarter. We will let you know if we hear anything new.

Regards,
Laura

*
*         Yakima Valley College
*         Lower Columbia College
*         Wenatchee Valley College
*         Centralia College
*         Walla Walla Community College
*         Big Bend Community College
*         Grays Harbor College


[Compass]Laura McDowell
Director of Communications
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
lmcdowell at sbctc.edu<mailto:lmcdowell at sbctc.edu> * o: 360-704-4310 * f: 360-704-4415 * c: 360-280-0670
sbctc.edu<https://www.sbctc.edu/> * Twitter: @SBCTCWashington<https://twitter.com/SBCTCWashington> * Facebook: @WASBCTC<https://www.facebook.com/wasbctc/>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20220823/dc880119/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 629079 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20220823/dc880119/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1958 bytes
Desc: image002.jpg
URL: <http://lists.ctc.edu/pipermail/wsssc_lists.ctc.edu/attachments/20220823/dc880119/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
SSEM mailing list
SSEM at lists.ctc.edu
http://lists.ctc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ssem_lists.ctc.edu