How Sacramento County school districts plan to use N95 masks

How Sacramento County school districts plan to use N95 masks

COVID-19 Masks

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California recently distributed about 950,000 N95 respirators to school districts across Sacramento County to aid in the fight against the omicron surge. Nearly 21 million masks were given to county education offices across the state in all as part of the effort by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to make higher quality masks available at schools.The N95 respirators, named because they can filter up to 95% of particles in the air when worn properly, are BYD Care Model #DE2322. They fit adults and some high school and junior high school students, Cal OES spokesperson Tim Ferguson said.Sacramento County Office of Education spokesperson Tim Herrera said this week that all of the county’s allotment of masks have been received by districts, who “then get them to the students, teachers, and staff in their districts with whatever process they decide.”Ferguson said the state is also sending millions more kid-sized KN95 masks, which could arrive as soon as the end of this week. KCRA 3 reached out to all of the districts in the county for more information on how they plan to use the initial group of N95s. Here is what we heard back. Sacramento City Unified School District SCUSD said it received the masks on Jan. 14 and they are being used for staff. “Each school site will receive enough N95 masks to issue 20 of them to each staff member, along with contracted providers, volunteers, substitute staff, and also a backup supply for on-site needs,” the district said on its website. “Shipments of masks will be available at all 77 SCUSD schools, along with the 17 charter schools that operate within the boundaries of the district.”Victoria Flores, the student support and health services director for the district, said staff would be educated on “proper fitting and handling” of the masks. The remaining supply of N95 masks will be added to the SCUSD Personal Protection Equipment order guide so school districts can order more inventory as needed. District spokesperson Al Goldberg told KCRA 3 that SCUSD has also ordered KF94 masks for students as part of a separate effort.The district said on its site that those South Korean-made masks use “design elements of a cloth mask that contours toward the face with an adjustable band over the nose that filters 94% of particles. The tent-like shape of the KF94 creates a little extra space between the mouth and the mask.”The district’s health services team will help answer any questions about the masks, Goldberg said. Twin Rivers Unified School DistrictThe Twin Rivers Unified School District said it received 83,840 N95 masks and delivered 30,000 of them to schools and district offices on Jan. 18 and 19. District spokesperson Zenobia J. Gerald said that parents are notified of availability after weekly deliveries of masks and at-home COVID-19 tests are sent out. The weekly deliveries include one mask for each student and staff member per week. The N95 is an available option for students and staff but not mandatory, Gerald said. The district also offers three-ply non-medical disposable masks and KN95s. Twin Rivers has also ordered 1 million more KN95 masks and an additional 500,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits for students and staff, Gerald said. San Juan Unified School District The San Juan Unified School District said it received about 126,920 N95 masks this week for use by staff.“The N95 masks have been distributed to every San Juan Unified school and worksite this week, and will be given to employees who request them,” spokesperson Raj Rai said. Staff members will be required to take an online training before using them and receive an informational handout, Rai said. Galt Joint Union High School District Galt Joint Union High School District received 7,320 N95s and is offering them to students and all staff, Superintendent Lisa Pettis said. She said the district follows state and county guidelines on mask use that “our health assistants and district nurse are on-site to assist students with mask fitting if needed.”Galt Joint Union Elementary School District The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District sent 11,000 N95 masks to school sites for staff to use, Superintendent Lois Yount said. Los Rio Community College District Los Rios community colleges did not receive any masks as part of the Cal OES effort for K-12 districts, spokesperson Gabe Ross said. But Los Rios has ordered a “significant number” of N95 masks for employees and students on its campuses. “Masks will be available for those working or studying on campus, and we have nurses and health care professionals on our campuses available to provide any guidance necessary,” Ross said. This story will continue to be updated as more districts respond to KCRA 3’s requests for information.

California recently distributed about 950,000 N95 respirators to school districts across Sacramento County to aid in the fight against the omicron surge.

Nearly 21 million masks were given to county education offices across the state in all as part of the effort by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to make higher quality masks available at schools.

The N95 respirators, named because they can filter up to 95% of particles in the air when worn properly, are BYD Care Model #DE2322.

They fit adults and some high school and junior high school students, Cal OES spokesperson Tim Ferguson said.

Sacramento County Office of Education spokesperson Tim Herrera said this week that all of the county’s allotment of masks have been received by districts, who “then get them to the students, teachers, and staff in their districts with whatever process they decide.”

Ferguson said the state is also sending millions more kid-sized KN95 masks, which could arrive as soon as the end of this week.

KCRA 3 reached out to all of the districts in the county for more information on how they plan to use the initial group of N95s.

Here is what we heard back.

Sacramento City Unified School District

SCUSD said it received the masks on Jan. 14 and they are being used for staff.

“Each school site will receive enough N95 masks to issue 20 of them to each staff member, along with contracted providers, volunteers, substitute staff, and also a backup supply for on-site needs,” the district said on its website. “Shipments of masks will be available at all 77 SCUSD schools, along with the 17 charter schools that operate within the boundaries of the district.”

Victoria Flores, the student support and health services director for the district, said staff would be educated on “proper fitting and handling” of the masks.

The remaining supply of N95 masks will be added to the SCUSD Personal Protection Equipment order guide so school districts can order more inventory as needed.

District spokesperson Al Goldberg told KCRA 3 that SCUSD has also ordered KF94 masks for students as part of a separate effort.

The district said on its site that those South Korean-made masks use “design elements of a cloth mask that contours toward the face with an adjustable band over the nose that filters 94% of particles. The tent-like shape of the KF94 creates a little extra space between the mouth and the mask.”

The district’s health services team will help answer any questions about the masks, Goldberg said.

Twin Rivers Unified School District

The Twin Rivers Unified School District said it received 83,840 N95 masks and delivered 30,000 of them to schools and district offices on Jan. 18 and 19.

District spokesperson Zenobia J. Gerald said that parents are notified of availability after weekly deliveries of masks and at-home COVID-19 tests are sent out. The weekly deliveries include one mask for each student and staff member per week.

The N95 is an available option for students and staff but not mandatory, Gerald said. The district also offers three-ply non-medical disposable masks and KN95s.

Twin Rivers has also ordered 1 million more KN95 masks and an additional 500,000 at-home COVID-19 test kits for students and staff, Gerald said.

San Juan Unified School District

The San Juan Unified School District said it received about 126,920 N95 masks this week for use by staff.

“The N95 masks have been distributed to every San Juan Unified school and worksite this week, and will be given to employees who request them,” spokesperson Raj Rai said.

Staff members will be required to take an online training before using them and receive an informational handout, Rai said.

Galt Joint Union High School District

Galt Joint Union High School District received 7,320 N95s and is offering them to students and all staff, Superintendent Lisa Pettis said.

She said the district follows state and county guidelines on mask use that “our health assistants and district nurse are on-site to assist students with mask fitting if needed.”

Galt Joint Union Elementary School District

The Galt Joint Union Elementary School District sent 11,000 N95 masks to school sites for staff to use, Superintendent Lois Yount said.

Los Rio Community College District

Los Rios community colleges did not receive any masks as part of the Cal OES effort for K-12 districts, spokesperson Gabe Ross said.

But Los Rios has ordered a “significant number” of N95 masks for employees and students on its campuses.

“Masks will be available for those working or studying on campus, and we have nurses and health care professionals on our campuses available to provide any guidance necessary,” Ross said.

This story will continue to be updated as more districts respond to KCRA 3’s requests for information.

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