Today the Governor of North Carolina announced how schools will be reopening this coming fall amid a continued surge in COVID-19 cases across our state.
During a press conference, Governor Cooper said that our state will be going with ‘Plan B’ for this year’s school season, meaning public K-12 schools will be open for a mix of in-person and remote learning.
Today, we announce that North Carolina schools will open for both in-person and remote learning with key safety precautions to protect the health of our students, teachers, staff and families. This is the Plan B that we asked schools to prepare.
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) July 14, 2020
Under Plan B, the following safety measures will be put in place for every public school in our state.
- Requiring face coverings for all teachers and students K-12
- Limiting the total number of students, staff and visitors within a school building to the extent necessary to ensure six feet distance can be maintained when students/staff will be stationary
- Conducting symptom screening, including temperature checks
- Establishing a process and dedicated space for people who are ill to isolate and have transportation plans for ill students
- Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in the school and transportation vehicles regularly
- Requiring frequent hand washing throughout the school day and providing hand sanitizer at entrances and in every classroom
- Discontinuing activities that bring together large groups
- Limiting nonessential visitors and activities involving external groups
- Discontinuing use of self-service food or beverage distribution
Governor Cooper also announced today that our state will remain in Phase 2 of the shutdown for another 3 weeks:
Today, I also announce that when the current executive order expires this Friday, July 17, North Carolina will continue to stay paused in Safer at Home Phase 2 for three weeks.
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) July 14, 2020
You can watch the entire press briefing here:
At 3 PM, Gov. Cooper will be giving an update on COVID-19 and K-12 public schools. Watch live here: https://t.co/rwEz4lEZNG
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) July 14, 2020