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SF Health Officer in 'Full Support' of Schools Reopening for In-Person Learning

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Protest sign saying "I want school! Full time. I miss my friends" in foreground of crowd before City Hall. Protestors in yellow T-shirts, Mayor Breed at podium in background.
Mayor London Breed speaks during a rally to reopen San Francisco public schools on March 13, 2021, the one year anniversary of school buildings being closed. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)

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.

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According to the statement, Philip said her office will consult with the state Department of Public Health to determine how to incorporate the CDC's guidance into local reopening plans.

Michelle Wiley

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