The Centers for Disease Control updated its COVID-19 guidelines this week for K-12 schools and early care and education programs to support safe in-person learning.

The changes come as schoolchildren are preparing to return to classrooms for a new school year.

The updates:

• Removed the recommendation to cohort, or separate students into groups

• Changed the recommendation to conduct screening testing to focus on high-risk activities during increased COVID-19 in the community or in response to outbreaks

• Removed quarantine recommendations, except in high-risk group settings

• Removed information about "Test to Stay," which allowed school-associated close contacts who are not fully vaccinated to attend school during quarantine

• Added information about when to wear masks and face coverings, managing cases and exposures and responding to outbreaks

Coeur d'Alene schools spokesman Scott Maben said the school district has not required masks for more than a year and has never required screening testing. He said the district suspended quarantines in cases of exposure some time ago.

"As we have done each time the CDC has updated its COVID guidelines for schools, we will review these changes and determine if we need to make any adjustments to our operating plans for the coming school year," Maben said Friday.

See the full report: bit.ly/3All5O0