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-Editorial
The Imperial County Public Health Department and the Imperial County Office of Education announced today that Imperial County has reached the threshold to permit elementary schools to reopen. The adjusted case rate necessary to allow the reopening of elementary schools is 25 per 100,000 and Imperial County is currently at 18.4. So far, three local elementary schools have submitted their COVID Safety Plans to the Public Health Department and to the State of California.
It is encouraging news that Imperial County has reached the threshold in COVID-19 case rates to allow our elementary schools to reopen for in-person instruction. Following state guidelines, grades TK-6 can reopen in counties where the adjusted case rate has been below 25 per 100,000 residents for five days. Imperial County reached that much-anticipated milestone on February 12.
Elementary schools in Imperial County may now submit their COVID Safety Plans to the state and county public health departments and may reopen for in-person instruction seven business days after doing so.
“The Imperial County Office of Education remains committed to guiding and supporting our local districts in addressing the impacts of COVID-19. The road ahead for our schools will be challenging on many fronts long after students have returned to campus. We look forward to working together to serve our students, families, and community,” stated Dr. Todd Finnell, Superintendent, Imperial County Office of Education.
California’s Safe Schools for All Plan provides the support and accountability to establish a clear path to minimize in-school transmissions and enable, a phased return to in-person instruction, and ongoing safe in-person instruction. The Safe Schools for All Hub consolidates key resources and information related to COVID-19 and schools. New resources will be added to the Hub on a routine basis. Information related to the documentation that schools will need to submit can be found on the State’s website: https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/.
