Every elementary school in Minnesota might be able to reopen safely on at least a part-time basis, according to new coronavirus case rates released Thursday by the Department of Health.
Under school reopening guidelines released last week, Lincoln, Murray and Pipestone counties had too many new cases per 10,000 residents for school leaders to consider sending anyone back to school.
But those case rates since have fallen somewhat. Now, school officials in all three counties should consider bringing elementary school students back at least part of the time, according to state guidelines.
The state updates its county-level case data every Thursday, so school leaders will have new information before many districts start the new school year. Some already have decided how the start of school will look.
Gov. Tim Walz has said the case data is just one of many factors leaders should consider when deciding which modes of instruction to use.
According to Thursday’s data release, which includes coronavirus test specimens collected July 12-25:
- 46 counties had fewer than 10 new cases per 10,000 residents, which means school leaders should consider fully reopening; that’s up from 40 counties in last week’s data release;
- 28 other counties had new case rates under 20, suggesting elementary schools can reopen while secondary schools can operate on a hybrid schedule
- 10 other counties had new case rates under 30, suggesting hybrid schedules for all
- 3 other counties — Lincoln, Murray and Pipestone — had case rates between 30 and 50, suggesting hybrid schedules for elementary schools and full-time distance learning for the upper grades.