RALEIGH â A new national study says that it appears safe to reopen schools for in-person instruction in counties with lower rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations. The study, conducted by the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice, is the first of its kind to analyze data from all U.S. counties. As a gauge for safely reopening schools, researchers used a threshold of 36 to 44 new hospitalizations per 100,000 people per week. Under the studyâs rationale, some North Carolina counties â including Wake, Union, Guilford, Brunswick, Davidson, Iredell, Pitt, Randolph, and Rowan â could safely reopen schools for in-person instruction. Mecklenburg County is just over the threshold at 44.15 new COVID-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 population.