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CT Department of Education Issues COVID Guidance

Alvaro Barrientos
/
AP

The weather’s getting warmer and residents are rolling up their sleeves to get the coronavirus vaccine. But the state Department of Education is telling students and families that it’s no time to let their guard down. 

In guidance, called Finish Strong, the department issued a reminder to keep up the standard practices of masking and social distancing. Communications Director Peter Yazbak said it’s important to remember that the pandemic isn’t over yet.

“We’ve come this far, we have the majority of our students having access to some sort of in-person learning option,” Yazbak told Connecticut Public Radio. “We just want to make sure we keep that up, keep each other safe and finish up the school year strong.”

All but 2.5% of students have the option to attend in-person school, according to state officials. About 70.1% of students are attending in person full time, and 27.4% chose a hybrid school option. 

The guidance comes in reaction to the spread of more contagious variants of the coronavirus. Yazbak said this guidance is as much for the school population as it is for the community beyond.

“Despite the warmer weather, despite the vaccine being out, we need to remain vigilant,” Yazbak said. 

This new guidance reflects an update from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month shortening the 6-foot social distancing guidelines to 3 feet in K-12 schools.

Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms. She loves hearing what you thought of her stories or story ideas you have so please email her at aoshinskie@ctpublic.org.

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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