All Arizona counties meet schools COVID benchmarks for hybrid classes

Oct 1, 2020, 9:50 AM | Updated: 10:01 am

(AP Photo)

PHOENIX – With fall break looming for many Arizona school districts next week, state health officials said Thursday each of the 15 counties meets recommended benchmarks for hybrid learning.

But data from the Arizona Department of Health Services showed Coconino and Pima counties each increase into the substantial spread range in cases per 100,000 residents for the most recent two weeks of data on its COVID-19 schools dashboard.

Graham reached moderate community spread levels for the first time.

Greenlee remained the only county that met full in-class instruction guidelines.

School districts can decide for themselves whether or not to follow the benchmarks.

The dashboard is updated every Thursday. The latest numbers are for the week starting Sept. 13 and don’t include the past 12 days because of potential lags in information.

The state health agency recommends the benchmarks be at moderate or minimal community spread levels for at least two consecutive weeks to allow hybrid learning.

Hybrid learning is a combination of in-person and distance learning.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said Wednesday mask mandates will help schools stay open and expand in-person instruction.

“I urge municipal leaders to continue their masking efforts in their communities — and I urge leaders in areas without mask requirements to take action now,” she said in a letter.

“Our school communities are depending on continued steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our state.”

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