California lays out guidelines for reopening schools
(Photo by Johnny Louis/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - California Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to soon release guidelines for the reopening of schools in the fall.
The San Francisco Chronicle obtained an early draft of the guidelines, which lay out some of the rules.
They include:
- Installing handwashing stations.
- Students and teachers must stay six feet apart.
- Staggered school start times.
- Keeping small groups of students together and isolated from the general population throughout the day.
- Lunch would be eaten in the classroom.
- Everyone entering the building would be screened for coronavirus symptoms, including temperature checks.
- Teachers would have to wear masks at all times, and students would be encouraged to.
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Newsom did not lay out these guidelines as was expected during his Friday news conference.
Instead, he addressed the state by talking about the "structural racism" in the country and told a personal story about how his four children were upset by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Newsom then talked about the number of tests that the state is now conducting, which are now up to 50,000 a day.
Hospitalizations are now holding steady, he said, which is why counties can move forward into phases 2 and 3 if they choose and can "attest" to the state that they are ready and can meet the criteria.
"We bought time," he said.
Despite the heartening news, Newsom said that no county is yet ready to move into Phase 4, when concerts and big conventions can be held.
This story was reported from Oakland, Calif.