The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) plans to reopen its elementary school playgrounds starting May 3, as children return to schools with COVID-19 safety measures in place.

To sanitize the playgrounds, elementary schools and early education centers will use electrostatic sprayers, which is a fog-like disinfectant that are deemed safe by both the Food and Drug Administration and Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Those same sprayers are used to clean hand rails, tables and other often touched surfaces at L.A. Unified schools.

“Smiles all around,” LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “The road to recovery includes the opportunity for youngsters to exercise and play outdoors in a way that is safe and appropriate. This is all part of our commitment to create the safest possible school environment.”

Per COVID-19 safety measures, only one cohort of students will be allowed to have recess at a time.

LAUSD schools began a staggered reopening on April 12, with elementary school students returning through April 22. This week, middle and high school students began a staggered reopening with all grades returning by April 30.

Online instruction is still being offered for all L.A. County students who do not feel comfortable returning to on-site classes.

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