Tri Cities Reporter

A few Washington counties that were hit especially hard by the pandemic have recovered enough to consider allowing students to return to in-person instruction.

The virus incidence rate continues to improve in Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties, Spokane Public Radio reported. 

State guidelines recommend that a return to school be considered when the new case positivity rate is 75 per 100,000 people for two weeks. Even though Benton County is not quite at the state standard, at 96 cases per 100,000, some schools in the Tri-Cities could reopen in early October. 

Even though the day-to-day operations will vary from school to school, all students and staff members in all districts will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing.

Larger districts are considering a hybrid learning schedule where only half of the students will be in the building at a time.

Schools in Franklin County are considering reopening under a hybrid model in mid-October.

Yakima County was one of the hardest hit counties in the Western US, but health officials have recommended that in person learning for grades K-5 could be started as early as Oct. Hybrid learning could start for grades 6-8 Nov. 2 and for high school Nov. 23. 

Yakima County health officer Teresa Everson said they will continue to monitor the situation closely but much relies on following social distancing rules in the community.

“It is also important now more than ever that families keep students  home when ill with any infection to simultaneously care for the student  and avoid additional disruption to classrooms,” Everson told Spokane Public Radio. “And that  employers and the community continue to support our working parents.”