#Florida schools ordered to reopen next month amid coronavirus spike

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Pre-kindergarten students wait to be taken to class at Mitchell Elementary School, Tampa, Monday, June 22, 2020.
ZUMAPRESS.com

Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran signed an emergency order on Monday requiring all schools in the state to open their doors to students in August.

School reopenings are “subject to advice and orders of the Florida Department” and local health departments, the order said.

“There is a need to open schools fully to ensure the quality and continuity of the educational process, the comprehensive well-being of students and families and a return to Florida hitting its full economic stride,” it continued.

The Tallahassee Democrat reported Monday that the order can be overridden by local health officials due to concerns over the coronavirus, cases of which have surged across the state.

The directive also lists requirements that districts must adhere to for the option of providing remote learning in conjunction with in-person classes, the report said.

The order concerning Florida’s schools came after President Trump on Monday tweeted that “SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!”

On Monday, the Florida Department of Health announced 47 new deaths and 6,300 new virus cases, WESH reported.

Nearly 3,800 people have died from the virus in the state, the outlet said.