South Sound Times

The state of Washington has determined that online learning is the safest route as schools reopen for the fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to The Daily Chronicle. 

Gov. Jay Inslee announced the recommendations, pointing out that while they are set in stone legally “[they] are strong recommendations and they are based on science. They are based on the health of our children,” he said during a press conference earlier this month, The Daily Chronicle reported. 

The suggestions were broken up into three different levels, with counties that have at least 75 positive coronavirus tests per 100,000 population in the previous two weeks were suggested to rely on virtual learning with the least amount of in-person instruction. 

The second level was for counties that had at least 25 cases per 100,000 in the two-week time frame. Those counties were suggested to use in-person learning for elementary schools and virtual learning for middle and high school students, the Daily Chronicle reported.

The lowest level was for counties with less than 25 cases per 100,000 in the period in question. They were suggested to have a combination of in-person and virtual learning for middle school and high school students and complete in-person teaching for elementary students. Only five counties were qualified for the lowest tier.