Guidelines for re-opening schools expected today

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY)- Public health guidelines for K-12 schools will be released today.

Students and parents can expect physical distancing recommendations and other safety precautions, such as less mixing at lunchtime and fewer assemblies.

A week after saying he was "hopeful" Arizona kids could safely return to classrooms later this year, Gov. Doug Ducey confirmed schools will reopen for in-person instruction in a few months.

Youth summer leagues, summer schools and day camps also can reopen, with some starting as soon as next week, the Republican leader said during an afternoon news conference.

He says state schools chief Kathy Hoffman will outline next week how schools will operate, but he says it won’t be a complete return to normal.

Ducey announced the reopening of schools even as the state sees an uptick in metrics used to track the progression of the disease, including the portion of tests that are positive and the portion of emergency room visits that are for COVID-19 symptoms.