In the most updated LAUSD policies for the spring semester, all students and staff will be required to take a baseline COVID-19 test, regardless of vaccination status.

In the district’s previous guidelines, vaccinated students and staff were going to be allowed to bypass the baseline COVID-19 testing, as vaccination rates were deemed high enough to do so.

“Keeping our schools safe is a top priority for Los Angeles Unified,” the district said in its update. “We all have a role in keeping our schools safe. Thank you for doing your part. Your feedback and partnership are appreciated. As a united Los Angeles Unified community, we will work together to ensure the safety of our students.”

With the Omicron variant increasing the number of positive COVID-19 cases in L.A. County, the school district is backtracking on its more relaxed testing rules.

All students will also be required to take weekly tests through at least the end of January.

Appointments for the baseline testing began Monday, January 3, with students and staff having until January 9 to upload their test results to their Daily Pass.

Students in K-12 are also eligible for free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests which can be picked up on Friday and Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon.

Masks will still be required in both indoor and outdoor settings, with the district saying student masks should not be made of cloth. Staff will be required to wear surgical-grade masks.

All students in the district will be returning to class on January 11.

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