Washington state says schools should plan for in-person learning in fall

Washington state announced this week that its schools should prepare for in-person, full-time learning in the fall after over a year of virtual learning.

Washington Health Department officials told K-12 schools on Wednesday to make two plans — one that incorporated social distancing for in-person learning and one that did not require social distancing, according to a report from KGW8.

The state agency will release official COVID-19 guidelines for schools after the Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup and a federal vaccine advisory committee meet later in the week.

Deputy secretary for Washington’s COVID-19 response team Lacy Fehrenbach discussed some of the measures during a Department of Health briefing, according to the local outlet.

Among some of the pandemic precautions previewed by the official included mask wearing, hand washing, school disinfection, plans for infected students and absentee plans.

Fehrenbach recommended that Washington schools adopt social distancing guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a social distance of 3 feet in schools. 

However, it is unclear at this point whether the schools will require a social distancing plan. 

“We’re asking schools to have both those plans and we’ll keep them posted over the summer as we monitor the science and the course of disease and vaccine updates in our state,” she said. 

The Washington State Board of Health is not discussing a coronavirus vaccine requirement. However, this could change depending on recommendations from the federal government. 

“The State Board of Health may formally consider the topic should a vaccine be licensed and recommended by federal authorities,” the board said, according to the local outlet. 

Pfizer’s vaccine on Wednesday became the first to be recommended by the CDC for use in adolescents. However, no vaccine has yet been recommended for children 12 and under.