CALIFORNIA — Many of the Golden State's school seniors may finally be able to walk the stage this year as California gave the green light for graduation ceremonies to resume Friday.
As coronavirus cases fall and vaccinations rise, schools and colleges will be able to plan ceremonies once again — but significant modifications will be made to the rite of passage. And ultimately, the decision to move forward with outdoor events will be left up to individual counties.
For all ceremonies, attendees and graduates will need to be 6-feet apart, which means handshaking and hugs "should not occur," according to the California Department of Public Health.
Also, graduating seniors may be discouraged from cap throwing, an age-old tradition that isn't considered sanitary in the age of coronavirus. The state says graduates should limit the "sharing or exchanging of materials," such as caps, programs, gifts or flowers.
Coronavirus precautions must be followed across all reopening tiers on the state's color-coded reopening blueprint, CDPH said.
Guests will be limited to a household unit, but people of the same household will not need to sit 6-feet apart. All attendees should also be screened or self-screen for fever or coronavirus symptoms before heading to the celebration.
Everyone will be required to wear a mask, except speakers who must maintain a 6-feet distance from others.
Family members or graduates who are vulnerable to coronavirus were urged not to attend.
Schools and colleges will be encouraged to send diplomas, caps and gowns to students in advance through the mail to avoid changing on campus grounds or exchanging any materials.
The state further advised that graduates could be invited to walk across the state individually and turn their tassel instead of being handed a diploma.
Additionally planned receptions before or after a commencement ceremony must adhere to restrictions within CDPH Guidance for Gatherings, the state said.
Required modifications to be made at ceremonies, according to the state:
- All attendees, including school staff, performers, students and families are counted toward any occupancy capacity limit.
- If multiple ceremonies are planned for a single day, schools must allow for at least two hours between ceremonies to prevent mixing across attendees.
- Limit attendee groups to a household unit. People from the same household do not need to be six feet apart.
- Audience seating must be fixed or marked, with readily identifiable signs to indicate by section, row, and seat. Marked seats should clearly define space for individuals with appropriate space per person — no blanket reservations or group areas.
Schools that are unable to limit capacity at certain ceremonies were offered several different alternatives to commencement celebrations such as virtual commencement, car parades or hosting a drive-in whith families remaining in their cars to watch the graduates march.
"These ceremonies can be done at drive-in movie theaters, school parking lots, stadium parking lots, or other large parking lot venues that could be exclusively used for the graduation event," the state suggested.
Postponement of celebrations was also suggested once again if the ceremony was deemed too risky.
"This could be challenging because of the evolving nature of COVID-19 and carries the risk that circumstances may be no different later than at the planned time," according to CDPH guidelines. "Postponement would lead to additional disappointment if it occurs more than once."
The updated guidance will allow commencement ceremonies for the first time since restrictions came down.
The news comes as infection rates remain low and vaccinations rise. What's more, on April 15, all Californians 16 and older will become eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday.
Effective immediately, the governor also said that anyone 16 or older who accompanies a currently eligible family member for vaccination may also receive the vaccine. "We will accommodate the family member, no questions asked," Newsom said.
The decision came as Newsom said he expects the state to finally see the end of its dosage deficit.
"The light at the end of the tunnel continues to get brighter," Newsom said in a tweet.
California expects to receive 2.5 million doses in the first half of April and another 3 million doses in the second half of the month.
The state currently receives about 1.8 million vaccine doses per week and can administer 3 million doses per week, but it is working to administer 4 million vaccines per week by April's end, the governor's office said in a news release.
READ MORE: All Californians 16+ Will Be Eligible For Vaccine April 15
California Coronavirus Data As Of Saturday: CDPH Report
- California has 3,559,193 confirmed cases to date. Numbers may not represent true day-over-day change as reporting of test results can be delayed.
- There were 3,278 newly recorded confirmed cases Friday.
- The 7-day positivity rate is 1.8%.
- There have been 53,170,348 tests conducted in California. This represents an increase of 200,192 during the prior 24-hour reporting period.
- There have been 57,551 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
- As of March 27, providers have reported administering a total of 16,775,843 vaccine doses statewide. The CDC reports that 21,147,010 doses have been delivered to entities within the state.
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