Resource: Modifying School Spaces During Mealtimes to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

This guidance explains how schools can reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission during meal service by working with teachers, building managers, school nutrition staff, and custodians to maintain physical distancing, improve ventilation, ensure handwashing and/or sanitizing, staggering mealtimes for class cohorts, and expanding disinfection or sanitization practices to include makeshift food surfaces (such as desks) between each use. Included are graphics that depict sample layouts showing how to apply the recommended mealtime modifications in various settings — in cafeterias, outdoor spaces, and classrooms. Learn more.