Students can be only 3 feet apart instead of 6 when they return to elementary, middle and high schools amid the coronavirus pandemic so long as everyone in the classroom is wearing masks, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.
The updated guidance reflects the intense pressure President Biden and his administration are facing to reopen schools as the vaccination plan unfolds and the U.S. attempts to return to normal.
Lawmakers and schools said the 6-foot rule on distancing was a key impediment to reopening schools. Many classrooms simply didn’t have the space.
Recent studies suggested 3 feet was sufficient, prompting federal scientists to revise their guidelines.
“CDC is committed to leading with science and updating our guidance as new evidence emerges,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said. “Safe in-person instruction gives our kids access to critical social and mental health services that prepare them for the future, in addition to the education they need to succeed. These updated recommendations provide the evidence-based roadmap to help schools reopen safely, and remain open, for in-person instruction.”
The lack of in-person learning for America’s children has been a key flashpoint since Mr. Biden took office. There is widespread fear that students will suffer long-lasting effects from relying on virtual learning and missing out on the social development that in-person school provides.
Republican lawmakers say there’s been a lack of urgency in the administration’s guidance and planning, citing the dustup over 3 feet or 6 feet as a prime example.
“For too long, the CDC’s school reopening guidance was at odds with what numerous public health experts were recommending, preventing many students from being able to return to the classroom,” said Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican. “I am pleased that the CDC has finally caught up with the science on school reopenings and has released updated guidelines that reflect the evidence on classroom spacing. Once we are able to fully reopen our schools, we can reverse the alarming declines in academic achievement, literacy, and social and emotional health.”
The new CDC guidance says middle and high school students should remain 6 feet apart in communities where transmission remains high and students cannot engage in “cohorting” — a practice in which a set group of students and staff are kept together at all times to reduce the chance of viral spread throughout the school.
“Transmission dynamics are different in older students — that is, they are more likely to be exposed to [the coronavirus] and spread it than younger children,” the CDC said in a written statement.
The CDC says 6 feet of distance should be maintained between adults in the school and among all people in common areas such as lobbies and auditoriums. Students and staff should stay 6 feet apart if they can’t wear masks, such as when eating, and move activities with “increased exhalation” — such as singing, sports or band practice — to outdoor or well-ventilated areas.
Beyond scientific considerations, Mr. Biden has been caught at times between his school reopening pledges and teacher unions that are wary of returning to the classrooms, citing the ongoing spread of the virus.
Dr. Walensky said she spoke to the unions about the new guidance, amid murmurs they were pushing back against the change from 6 feet to 3 feet.
“They know that we need to follow the science and make our guidance based on that science and they’ve been very respectful of that,” she told reporters.
As schools move toward reopening, Mr. Biden’s team touted $10 billion from the new relief package for coronavirus-testing in schools to disrupt chains of infection.
The administration says teachers don’t need to be vaccinated to return to school safely, though Mr. Biden has urged states to prioritize teachers through the retail pharmacy program that receives a tranche of shots each week.
The pandemic situation has improved in the U.S. since a winter holiday spike, as the country delivers 2.5 million vaccine shots per day.
But daily case counts are starting to plateau at about 50,000-55,000, prompting fears that gains will stall out as states relax mask rules and other mitigation measures.
“It is unfortunate but not surprising to me that you are seeing increases in [the] number of cases per day in areas — cities, states or regions,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “Even though vaccines are being distributed at a pretty good clip of 2 to 3 million per day, that could be overcome if certain areas pull back prematurely on the mitigation and public health measures that we all talk about.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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