ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO) – As hospitalizations and new COVID-19 cases decline and Minnesota makes progress vaccinating teachers, Gov. Tim Walz has updated Minnesota’s Safe Learning Plan to allow more middle and high school students to return to the classroom.
Beginning February 22, all middle and high school students can return to the classroom for hybrid or in-person learning. Governor Walz expects all schools to offer their students some form of in-person learning by March 8.
“It’s time for students to be back in the classroom,” Governor Walz said. “We aren’t out of the woods, but our relentless progress with vaccines and Minnesotans’ vigilance has put us closer than ever to the end of this pandemic. Our progress means we can get more students safely back into classrooms. As a parent and former teacher, I know how critical this step is for the economic security, well-being, and mental health of our kids and their families.”
Minnesota has made significant progress getting vaccines into Minnesotans’ arms, surpassing 940,000 doses administered to over 695,000 people. Nearly 25 percent of teachers and 40 percent of seniors have been vaccinated – numbers that are growing every day. The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive is now below five percent. Hospitalizations are also steadily declining.
The state has prioritized vaccines and COVID-19 testing for school staff.
Next week, educators will have access to more than 18,000 vaccine doses at state vaccine sites and more through other providers – a significant weekly increase.
On Jan. 4, the state began its first-in-the-nation testing program in which testing supplies are delivered every two weeks directly from the state warehouse to each school district at no cost to staff or schools. Since then, more than 96% of Minnesota’s school districts have signed up to participate. 41% of nonpublic schools and two out of four tribal schools are also participating.
