SANTA FE -- At this time, the New Mexico Public Education Department will not be requiring schools to close upon reaching four Rapid Responses in 14 days, but will instead work with schools to implement enhanced COVID-safe practices that will maintain in-person learning as much as possible.
The department is evaluating updated guidance and processes with the state’s medical advisory team with the goal of ensuring students and school staff are safe and that schools can remain open.
“Our medical advisors have noted that schools currently are not hotbeds of COVID-19 infections,” said Secretary Designate Kurt Steinhaus. “At this point, we are not closing schools. The caveat is that the virus could change things, but we need to do what’s best for kids, which is to keep in-person learning to the extent possible.”
The New Mexico Environment Department keeps track of Rapid Responses based on its own reports and those from other state agencies, including the Public Education Department. A Rapid Response is one or more positive cases at a school that were infectious while on campus. Previously, schools that reached the four-in-14 threshold were required to return to remote learning. Read the complete COVID-19 Rapid Response Watchlist here.
Due to an increase of cases and to allow for deep cleaning and to limit further spread of the virus, some schools are choosing to voluntarily return to remote instruction. To date, 18 schools have informed the Public Education Department that they are temporarily moving to remote instruction.
As a reminder, New Mexico’s public schools are requiring staff, educators, students and visitors to wear masks at all times except when eating or drinking.