Deemed 'Essential Workers,' Some Teachers Told to Skip Quarantine After COVID-19 Exposure. As schools across the country reopen, the White House has given the green light for teachers to be considered essential workers and exempt from quarantine requirements.

Who is considered to be essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Essential (critical infrastructure) workers include health care personnel and employees in other essential workplaces (e.g., first responders and grocery store workers).

What are the guidelines for schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Based on studies from 2020-2021 school year, CDC recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing to reduce transmission risk.