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CDC officially says all schools should reopen in-person across the US with new mitigation design

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The CDC has recently designed a new layout for schools with the intention to reopen with in-person learning.

The CDC has released a plan for reopening school based on community risk assessment. Based on four assessments, blue (low transmission), yellow (moderate transmission), orange (substantial transmission), and red (high transmission), the mitigation strategies will increase in caution. However, there are two universal rules to follow, which are wear a mask and stay six feet apart. Below is a table with the CDC mitigation strategies:

LowModerateSubstantialHigh
Elementary(K-5)Full in-person instruction approved
Keep six feet or more apart		Full in-person instruction approved
Keep six feet or more apart		Hybrid mode approved
Keep six feet or more apart		Hybrid mode approved
Keep six feet or more apart
Middle School(6-8)Full in-person instruction approved
Keep six feet or more apart		Full in-person instruction approved
Keep six feet or more apart		Hybrid mode approved, reduced attendance recommended
Keep six feet or more apart		Unless mitigation policies can be applied strictly, in-person attendance is to be stopped with virtual learning in its place
High School(9-12)Full in-person instruction approved
Keep six feet apart		Full in-person instruction approved
Keep six feet or more apart		Hybrid mode approved, reduced attendance recommended
Keep six feet or more apart		Unless mitigation policies can be applied strictly, in-person attendance is to be stopped with virtual learning in its place
Sports & ExtracurricularsMask required
Keep six feet or more apart		Mask required
Keep six feet or more apart		Outdoor events only
Mask required
Keep six feet or more apart		Virtual activities only

The CDC stresses the importance of masks and distancing as usual, but also that the newer additions to the mitigation chart be followed accordingly. The option of virtual learning is another universal requirement for staff and students at high risk, or that have relatives at high risk, of the virus. On that note, you’ll mind that the regulations are significantly lenient on elementary schools. This would be due to the notable degree of unlikelihood of in school contraction for elementary students, according to the CDC themselves.

The CDC also notes that in-person instruction should be prioritized over extracurriculars to protect the option of in-person learning as a whole. Further protective measures include separating students into cohorts, sending in different students on different days, and tracing movements of people in the school in case of the event of a contraction, so it may be traced to its source or to rule out the school as the place of contraction.

With this new model, it is hoped by the CDC that more schools will be able to safely determine whether or not they can reopen based on community data. This could be great news to most, but there’s also the group of people who will remain remote as they find it more beneficial. With vaccines gradually coming in, things may finally take a step forward in getting our lives back, starting with the school system.

ARTICLE: DAYKHI CONQUEST

POLITICS EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

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