Q&A on Back-to-School Guidance: Karin Ng, Hawai‘i Department of Health School Liaison for COVID-19

Back to school! Getting ready for in-person learning this new school year has kept the Hawai‘i Department of Health and Department of Education very busy.

Karin Ng, School Liaison in the Department of Health’s Disease Outbreak Control Division (DOCD), has been key to a successful transition back to in-person learning. Throughout the pandemic, she and the DOH COVID-19 School Response Team have worked closely with the Department of Education’s COVID-19 Core Response Team as well as with administrators from independent and charter schools. Whether school is in or out of session, she serves as the lead point of contact for principals and school administrators on questions regarding COVID-19 response and mitigation strategies. She also coordinates with case investigators and contact tracers in each county on statewide school COVID-19 response protocols. DOH investigators follow up all COVID-19 cases reported in schools, investigate clusters of cases, and provide consultation on managing clusters, disinfecting high-touch areas, and school closure when necessary.

Ng is now focused on equipping schools with strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and maintain safe operations. With schools reopening on August 3, Ng along with Dr. Sarah Kemble, State Epidemiologist and the DOCD team have been working around the clock to prepare administrators, teachers, students and their parents for a safe return.

Ng took time out of her full schedule to share about her role, to answer common back-to-school questions and to highlight new guidance and resources.

Q: What has been your role as a health coordinator for the schools during the pandemic?

Karin: I have been working as the school liaison for the Disease Outbreak Control Division. I work closely with schools to answer questions and serve as a point of contact for reporting COVID-19 cases to HDOH.

Q: What has been the most rewarding aspect of your position?

Karin: The most rewarding aspect of working as the school liaison is being able to serve as a resource for the teachers, parents, and their students. Naturally, there are a lot of questions about COVID-19 and what it means for returning to school. It is rewarding to be able to answer schools’ questions and address any of their concerns.

Q: What challenges have you been able to overcome that resulted in a positive outcome for the schools?

Karin: COVID-19 has brought challenges to all the school communities throughout the state. We have worked hard on developing guidance and addressing questions to provide schools with resources, as well as confidence, to return to in-person learning.

Q: Looking back over last year, what are you most proud of accomplishing or contributing to support teachers, parents or students during the pandemic?

Karin: I am most proud of being a part of a team that provides guidance to schools that will allow them to confidently return to learn in-person.

Q: As back-to-school guidance on COVID protocols is being finalized by the Hawai‘i Department of Health, what are you hearing are some of the concerns that parents and teachers have expressed about in-person learning?

Karin: I have heard parents expressing concerns about their children having to wear masks in class. It is important for students and staff to wear their masks to help prevent transmission of COVID-19, thus allowing schools to remain open for in-person learning. Most children of school age tolerate wearing masks without difficulty. HDOH recommends schools organize outdoor mask breaks for students and staff. There are also a variety of masks, such as clear masks, which help when interacting with students who rely on reading lips.

Q: Could you share about the rigorous process of developing and finalizing the guidance for the schools?

Karin: There was a lot of thought and effort that went into the HDOH Guidance for Schools (released on July 26, 2021). HDOH reviewed CDC guidance, participated in discussions with other health departments throughout the nation, and then drafted guidance that would be best aligned for the schools and communities in the State of Hawai’i. The draft was reviewed by the School Health Advisory Committee (which included school stakeholders and pediatricians), who provided input via email and meetings. These meetings gave the school stakeholders the opportunity to discuss any points of contention and provide suggestions for the Guidance for Schools. After making changes based on feedback, we reviewed the guidance and then released it publicly on our website.

Q: As schools shift from online or hybrid learning to in-person classroom learning, what are some things parents, teachers and students should keep in mind?

Karin: Parents, teachers, and students should focus on practicing the Core Essential Strategies that should be implemented in schools. Everyone should stay home if feeling sick or go home if they start to feel sick at school, correctly and consistently wear masks while indoors, and practice proper hand hygiene. It is also important for those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

Q: Guidance continually evolves over time, all based on good intentions. Sometimes there is conflicting guidance and the public does not know who to believe or turn to for support. How should parents and teachers reconcile conflicting federal, state or county guidance?

Karin: While HDOH provides guidance at the state level, parents and teachers should refer to the mandates in their local county.

Click here for more information from the Department of Health on guidance for schools.

Q: What has getting vaccinated meant for you personally? What activities have you and your family enjoyed doing since becoming vaccinated?

Karin: Getting vaccinated means protecting myself and my community. I have been enjoying starting to travel again and visiting my family members who live off island.