Detroit students are back today from a one-week break, but all learning is online this week and next.
In-person teaching pauses "due to the city’s extraordinarily high seven-day Covid infection rate at 15%," the district posted Friday. "We will take an extra pause and plan to return to in-person teaching and learning April 19 ... to limit the spread."
Wayne State takes a similar step, suspending all instruction on campus Wednesday except for clinical rotations by medical, nursing and pharmacy students,. Athletics practices and competitions also halt. The university will decide after 10 days whether it's safe to restart in-person classes and athletics, WDIV reports.
Dearborn Public Schools will be all-virtual this week too.
Coronavirus has surged statewide for several weeks, and the 10-19 age group is seeing the greatest increase of new cases, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. "It would be prudent for schools to consider keeping students virtual after spring break," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday in Pontiac.
Detroit students last September. (Photo: Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Chalkbeat Detroit, an education news site, reports:
The district said it would continue to consult with public health experts and make adjustments if necessary. ...
Employees will be required to receive a negative Covid-19 test before returning to buildings. The district also plans to launch random Covid-19 saliva testing for students [when they return].
About 9,000 students have returned to attend [in-school] learning centers and in-person instruction since the district reopened buildings in February and March. ... The district enrolls 49,000 students.
Related:
New Covid cases top 8,400 in Michigan, the worst total since fall, April 4
