Walking to school, picking up prepackaged meals and playing non-contact sports outdoors?
These activities pose a low- to medium-risk of transmitting the coronavirus, according to COVID-19 Recovery Consulting, a group of experts offering guidance on reopening schools, businesses and other segments of society.
Choirs and bands, all types of contact sports and riding buses or public transportation to get to school are among the highest-risk activities, the organization says.
The low/medium risk category also includes desk-based instruction, outdoor eating, supervised clubs and going to the restroom.
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Carpooling, eating indoors and unmonitored study halls are among the activities considered medium risk while students using lockers, moving between classes and eating in the cafeteria are considered medium/high risk.
The group also recommends the following risk-reducing actions:
- Holding classes outdoors, under tents if necessary
- Capping class sizes at 10-15 students
- Opening classroom windows
- Staggering pick-up and drop-off times
- Grouping students in pods
- Switching teachers, rather than students, between classes.
- Converting unused spaces, such as gyms, into classrooms.
DA’s coronavirus page offers complete coverage of the impacts on K-12.
