by Danielle Waugh

May 21st 2020

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidelines for schools to safely re-open amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The 60 page CDC document discusses recommendations for schools starting on page 45.

Some of the guidelines include:

• Face coverings for all staff members — with coverings encouraged for students
• Cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces daily
• Restrictions on mixing of students, keeping the same groups of students with the same staff members as much as possible
• Canceling of field trips, events, and extracurricular activities
• Spacing desks 6 ft. apart, facing the same direction
• Closing dining halls and serving meals in classrooms
• Spacing on school buses, putting one student in every other row
• Minimize sharing of objects such as electronic devices
• Serving pre-packaged food instead of buffet-style meals when possible
• Conducting daily health screenings, such as temperature checks

The Florida Department of Education has not yet released its recommendations for public schools in Florida.

Channel 3 talked with some Northwest Florida school districts earlier this week. They’re hopeful to return to classrooms in fall and discussed some of their plans.

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