Schools and Child Care: COVID-19
It is important that everyone in the school community take steps to reduce COVID-19 transmission, particularly to those at high risk, while balancing the need to maintain a strong education system that effectively supports staff, students, and communities.
More information is available:
On this page:
Child care and K-12 programming
Safety and well-being
Cleaning and disinfecting
CDC guidance and resources
Additional resources and print materials
Child care and K-12 programming
- 2020-2021 Planning Guide for Schools: Health Considerations for Navigating COVID-19 (PDF)
This document provides parameters for schools to use in their planning for possible reopening in fall 2020-2021. Additional guidance will be determined as the COVID-19 response evolves through the summer months and into the fall.
Updated 7/30/20
- Data for K-12 Schools: 14-day COVID-19 Case Rate by County (PDF)
This document provides data that can be used by schools in making decisions about their safe learning model.
Updated: 7/30/20, updated every Thursday. - Guidance for Delivering Direct Student Support Services: Staff Protective Equipment (PDF)
This document provides direction to school staff on the type of protective equipment that will be needed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission when delivering direct student support services.
7/30/20
- COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Youth and Student Programs (PDF)
This guidance outlines prevention strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in youth and student programs.
Updated 7/31/20
- COVID-19 Prevention Guidance for Overnight Camps (PDF)
Supplemental guidance for overnight camp operations. Overnight camps can start planning to operate beginning in July.
Updated 7/22/20
- Playground Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs (PDF)
5/28/20
See Communities: Sports and Activities for sports and pool guidance.
Safety and well-being
- What To Do When Notified of a Lab-Confirmed Case of COVID-19 in a School or Child Care Setting (PDF)
Resources and instructions to protect staff and children in your child care, school, or camp community if notified of a confirmed case of COVID-19.
7/13/20
- Decision Tree for People with COVID-19 Symptoms in Youth, Student, and Child Care Programs (PDF)
MDH exclusion guidance for youth, student, and child care programs.
Updated 6/2/20
- Masking Requirements for Child Care
Recommendations for those caring for children of essential workers (child care providers, family child care providers, and school-age care).
- Food Service Worker Safety Information (PDF)
Guidance for school food programs.
Updated 7/22/20
- Supporting Mental Well-being during COVID-19
Cleaning and disinfecting
- COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfecting Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs
- Frequently Asked Questions About COVID-19 for Facilities Service and Cleaning Staff
- Supplies for Schools: COVID-19
Cleaning supplies for students and staff, including the health services and custodial teams.
CDC guidance and resources
- K-12 Schools and Child Care Programs
FAQs for administrators, teachers, and parents.
- Guidance for Child Care Programs that Remain Open
- Childcare, Schools, and Youth Programs
Guidance documents to plan, prepare, and respond.
- Print Resources
Materials are free for download. Includes fact sheets, posters, flyers, and posters.
- Stay Home If You're Sick (PDF)
CDC poster.
Additional resources and print materials
- Guidance Library: COVID-19
- Cleaning & Disinfecting for COVID-19 (PDF)
- Materials and Resources for COVID-19 Response
Video PSAs, print materials, and translated documents to assist with responding to COVID response.
- Hand Hygiene
Video, posters, teaching materials, and more related to handwashing.- Hand Hygiene for Schools and Child Care
Hand hygiene information, research, and guidelines for schools and child care.
- Hand Hygiene for Schools and Child Care
- Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools Manual
Hennepin County infectious disease manual.
- Institutes of Higher Education (IHE)
Planning guidance for mitigating COVID-19 spread on campus and other interpretive guidance.
Minnesota Helpline:
For questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, call 651-297-1304 or 1-800-657-3504
Mon.-Fri.: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Mental Health Crisis Line - Call: **CRISIS (**274747)
COVID-19 information in other languages:
- Kab Mob Khaus Las Nas Vais Lav 2019 (COVID-19)
(Hmong) - Cudurka Koronafayras 2019 (COVID-19)
(Somali) - Enfermedad del Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
(Spanish) - American Sign Language (ASL) Videos
Contact us:
If you have questions or comments about this page, use our IDEPC Comment Form or call 651-201-5414 for the MDH Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division.
