California Governor Pitches $2 Billion School-Reopening Plan
- Phased opening relies on mask distribution, increased testing
- The state had a record 432 deaths from Covid on Tuesday
Empty tables sit on the campus of a high school in San Diego, California, on July 10.
Photographer: Bing Guan/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a $2 billion plan to help schools reopen for in-person instruction by early spring, even as a surge in Covid-19 cases overwhelms health-care facilities in the most populous U.S. state.
Funds from his proposed legislative package would be spent on testing, ventilation and personal protective equipment. Newsom said he’ll seek weekly testing for communities with high rates of transmission; masks for all students and staff; improved contact tracing; and the prioritization of school workers for vaccinations. Distance learning will still be an option.