The Centers for Disease Control has released new guidelines for schools during the pandemic, but it won’t change much in Minnesota.
 
 As part of the new guidance from the CDC, students now can be spaced out 3 feet from one another in classrooms -- that’s half of the previously recommended 6 feet.
 
 Middle schools and high schools in communities of high transmission, however, should be 6 feet apart when students cannot be grouped into cohorts or pods. Cohorts or pods stay together throughout the entire day of in-person learning. 
 
 Six feet of distancing is still advised when masks cannot be worn. For example, eating during lunch, singing in choir, exercising and other activities that involve increased breathing/exhalation.
 
 Teachers’ union, Education Minnesota, released a statement following the updated guidelines, saying it won’t have much of an effect on Minnesota schools. Education Minnesota says more than 90% of school districts in Minnesota already offer in-person learning and they have the flexibility of setting desks three feet apart in most settings.
 
 Education Minnesota says that parents shouldn’t read too much into the announcement and that the pandemic isn’t over.
 
 Quote: “We’re concerned about the rising number of infections of students and staff that have been linked to school buildings and our hearts go out to the families of the two school staff members who contracted COVID-19 on the job and died already this month.” Unquote

 Education Minnesota says we all must look out for each other by wearing masks, avoiding crowds and getting vaccinated as soon as it is our turn.