School districts are preparing to welcome students back to a full-time schedule in classrooms even amid rising rates of COVID-19 caused by the delta variant of the coronavirus. Some mitigation strategies from last year will remain, like masking and sanitizing, while others have been relaxed, like the 3 feet of distance between each student that is suggested, but no longer required, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

Infectious disease specialists caution that vaccines are a critical piece of the puzzle, because children admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19 are mostly coming from homes where adults are unvaccinated.