BOSTON (AP) U.S. guidelines that say students should be kept 6 feet apart in schools are receiving new scrutiny from federal health experts, state governments and education officials working to return as many children as possible to the classroom.
Even as more teachers receive vaccinations, the distancing guidelines have remained a major hurdle for schools as they aim to open with limited space. But amid new evidence that it may be safe to seat students closer together, states including Illinois, Indiana and Massachusetts are allowing 3 feet of distance, and others including Oregon are considering it.
Debate around the issue flared last week when a new study suggested that, if masks are worn, students can be seated as close as 3 feet apart with no increased risk to them or teachers. Published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, it looked at schools in Massachusetts, which has backed the 3-feet guideline for months.
In California: Troops to support state s COVID-19 vaccination sites. And new rules for booze? Winston Gieseke, USA TODAY
Happy weekend! I m Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. We had some technical difficulties sending out the newsletter on Friday apologies for the delayed delivery. Here are some of the headlines as we wrap up the week.
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Pentagon sending 1,000 troops to 5 COVID-19 vaccination sites in California
The Pentagon will deploy more than 1,100 troops to five vaccination centers in what will be the first wave of increased military support for the White House campaign to get more Americans inoculated against COVID-19.