Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo says it's still too soon for students to return to the classroom.
She calls the potential return to the classroom without taking precautions “a ticking time bomb”. On Wednesday afternoon, she laid out a roadmap for re-opening schools based on the county's color coded system. She noted, however, that they're just guidelines.
“Despite the state removing the authority of local officials, county, health departments to close schools for in-person instruction, we have a responsibility,” Hidalgo said, taking an apparent jab at Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
She says the county is at level one, Code Red. That’s the most severe, which means there should be no in-person instructions. County officials already told local Superintendents schools should not reopen until at least September 8th. If the number of cases continue to fall, students will be allowed gradually, in groups (or cohorts), to return to the classroom.
The code uses the following levels:
-Red: All schools should be closed to in person instruction and activities.
-Orange: School districts following a plan approved by Harris County Public Health may consider in-person instruction and activities for certain priority populations while not exceeding 25% capacity or 500 students, whichever is lower, in buildings or rooms, so long as schools can maintain cohorting practices.
-Yellow: School districts following a plan approved by Harris County Public Health may consider in-person instruction and activities while not exceeding 50% capacity or 1,000 students, whichever is lower, in buildings or rooms, so long as schools can maintain cohorting practices.
-Green: School districts following a plan approved by Harris County Public Health may resume in-person instruction at their usual capacity.