San Francisco's acting health officer, Dr. Susan Philip, is "in full support of reopening all schools for TK-12 grades as safely as possible," according to a statement she issued Friday.
This comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced new guidance on school reopening that recommends students stay only 3 feet apart, rather than the previous guidance requiring 6 feet of distance.
In the statement, Philip said this new guidance "adds to the evidence that schools can be safe environments for in-person instruction."
"The research now clearly shows that schools can be safe environments for teachers, staff, and students as long as COVID-19 prevention and mitigation measures are followed," Philip said. "The data also shows there are significant harms to children’s health and well-being from being away from in-person instruction."
Earlier this month, officials with the San Francisco Unified School District announced a tentative deal with the teachers union that would allow some younger students to return to in-person classes with a phased reopening, beginning in mid-April.