US CDC Announces Guidelines for Resuming In-Person School Classes

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] The United States has begun efforts to reopen schools that were closed due to COVID-19.

On the 12th (local time), the Washington Post (WP) reported that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced five strategic guidelines related to the reopening of elementary, middle, and high schools.

The CDC stated, "There is evidence that many schools that have strictly implemented COVID-19 prevention measures can safely resume in-person classes," adding, "The school reopening strategy is based on science and evidence." It further emphasized that schools are public facilities that should be the last to close and the first to open, stating, "Data shows that in-person classes at schools are not significantly related to community transmission."

The CDC explained that even in communities with high COVID-19 infection rates, elementary schools can safely resume at least minimal in-person classes based on COVID-19 prevention measures. For middle and high schools, it said they can safely open in communities with low infection rates on the condition of weekly testing.

For areas with the highest infection rates, called the "Red Zone," the CDC suggested implementing strict prevention measures and combining online and offline classes.

The CDC presented five key strategies for school reopening: universal and proper mask-wearing, maintaining 6 feet (approximately 1.8 meters) of social distancing, hand washing, improving cleaning and ventilation systems, and contact tracing and isolation measures when cases occur.

However, the CDC reiterated that state governments should prioritize vaccinating teachers but stated that vaccination is not a prerequisite for reopening schools.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.