CDC: Mitigation efforts keys for schools to reopen safely Officials say schools can be reopened without widespread vaccination Share Updated: 6:24 PM EST Feb 12, 2021 Officials say schools can be reopened without widespread vaccination Share Updated: 6:24 PM EST Feb 12, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript BASELY DO SO, BASED ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DISEASE IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NEW CDC GUIDANCE BREAK SCHOOLS INTO FOUR COLOR-CODED CATEGORIES, BASED ON NEW CASES AND POSITIVITY RATES. SCHOOLS WITH LOW COMMUNITY SPREAD FALL IN THE BLUE AND YELLOW ZONES. THEY COULD OPEN WITH FULL IN-PERSON LEARNING AND WITH AS MUCH SOCIAL DISTANCING AS POSSIBLE. SCHOOLS IN THE ORANGE, WITH TRANSMISSION RATES, ARE RECOMMENDED FOR HYBRID OR REDUCED ATTENDANCE, WITH REQUIRED DISTANCING. SAME GOES FOR SCHOOLS IN THE R ZONE, BUT ONLY IF THERE IS REGULAR TESTING. FOR RED SCHOOLS THAT DON’T REGULARLY TEST, THE CDC RECOMMENDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE REDUCED ATTENDANCE, WITH MANDATORY DISTANCING, AND THAT MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS GO VIRTUAL. DR. CASCADDEN: WE’RE REALLY -- DIR. DR.ALENSKY: WE’RE REALLY TRYING TO NOT GET INTO THE EMOTION OF IT, BUT TO PROVIDE THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR HOW IT CAN BE DONE SAFELY. TIM: THE CDC CALLS THIS A LAYERED MITIGATION APPROACH,AND VACCINES PLAY SOMEWHAT OF A ROLE. DR. WALENSKY: IT’S ONE OF THOSE LAYERS OF MITIGATION THAT WE BELIEVE WILL HELP, BUT WE BELIEVE, AND THE SCIENCE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT, SCHOOLS CAN BE REOPENED SAFELY PRIOR TO ALL TEACHERS BEING VACCINATED. TIM: MANY NEW HAMPSHIRE DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FOLLOWING SIMILAR GUIDELINES, INCLUDING BOW, WHICH HAS HAD A MIX OF IN-PERSON AND HYBRID CLASSES. DR. CASCADDEN: WE WROTE A PLAN VERY EARLY IN THE YEAR WHICH WAS VERY FLEXIBLE AND WOULD GO TO DIFFERENT LEVELS. TIM: THE DISTRICT IS HOPING TO HAVE STUDENTS FULLY IN-PERSON ON MARCH 15. DR. CASCADDEN: THAT’LL DEPEND ON STAFFING. AND WHAT WE’VE SEEN THIS YEAR IS THAT HAS BEEN THE LIMITING FACTOR IN A LOT OF CASES. TIM: NOW, THE CDC SAYS IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES TO REALIZE THERE IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY IN KEEPING COVID-19 LEVELS LOW IN EACH COMMUNITY, SO THAT SCHOOLS CAN RE