Health District Releases Back to School Plan

The Yakima Health District has released a plan for area schools to follow to get kids back in the classroom. The schools were closed earlier this year because of COVID-19 concerns. Health officials say case counts were very high at the beginning of the pandemic now they've eased and new guidelines have been issued for school districts. A news release says while current case counts place Yakima County in the category of higher (not highest) risk for transmission, many other factors, place Yakima County in moderate risk categories. As a result the health district says the area can take measured steps forward towards in-person education.
The district is now recommending school districts consider in person learning for k-5 grades as early as October 12.
The news release goes on to say;

"Advancing hybrid learning, a mixture of in-person and online work, for grades 6-8 as early as November 2nd (minimum of 3 weeks from reopening of K-5) pending ongoing stable case counts and hospitalization rates and observing all safety recommendations above.

Advancing hybrid learning for grades 9-12 as early as November 23rd (minimum of 3 weeks from reopening of grades 6-8) pending ongoing stable case counts and hospitalization rates and observing all safety recommendations above.

It is anticipated that it will only be necessary to close schools and revert to distance learning if outbreaks occur within schools themselves or should community transmission reach a rate requiring a return to previous social distancing restrictions,including distance learning."