Are L.A. Schools Ready to Reopen? | Feb. 16

On the Feb. 16 episode of SoCal Update, for the first time in the pandemic, COVID-19 cases are low enough to reopen Los Angeles County elementary schools as early as this week. But are they ready?

KPCC Reporter Caroline Champlin explains cases have gone down but the standards for reopening have also changed. Former rules would not allow districts to reopen if they are in the most restrictive COVID-19 purple tier, which Los Angeles remains in. In January, Gov. Gavin Newsom changed that case number threshold to reopen schools for the youngest students as long as schools had a safety plan approved by union partners. Los Angeles Unified School District does not have a safety proposal yet, as the district continues negotiating with the teachers union. Teachers are asking for vaccinations before reopening and the public health department anticipates teachers will begin receiving vaccines until March.

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Caroline Champlin @champlin_c
Leo Duran @LeoHasACat