School districts across Oregon could be seeing changes to safety protocols towards the end of the school year as COVID-19 cases rise.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) have issued a new School Health Advisory statewide beginning from May 13 to August 31. While universal masking is strongly advised by this document, masks are not mandated.

Although Jackson and Josephine counties do not yet have the COVID-19 caseloads to drastically change the rest of the school year, Eagle Point School District will be continuing to use certain safety measures that they've been implementing since last fall.

“We feel confident that what we’ve been doing with our layered mitigation approach, staying diligent educating families and then working with our local public health authority to make sure that we are getting the most accurate information of what’s happening with our county,” said Dean MacInnis, communication supervisor.

Part of the layered mitigation is conducting self-checks at home, taking at home COVID tests and remaining socially distant.

“We meet with Jackson County Public Health weekly like a lot of the other districts, so we're getting direct information from them and advice from them as well,” MacInnis said.

According to MacInnis, with only four weeks left in the school year, EPSD will continue to monitor their safety protocols but does not feel they will return to remote learning.

“Part of the reason we were able to stay open all school year was, our substitutes and teachers picking up someone else's classroom when they have a break and it’s really taken all of us working together to keep our school open,” MacInnis said.