Pomp and masks at Alabama high school graduation

High schools nationwide have canceled or postponed traditional graduation ceremonies to avoid worsening the spread of the new coronavirus.

But some plunged ahead with full-fledged springtime commencement exercises, with some tweaks to account for health concerns.

Some 390 seniors graduated Wednesday night from Spain Park High School in Alabama.

Everyone had a mask on while entering the stadium though a few in the class and the audience removed theirs once seated and the ceremony started.

The event began orderly with ushers directing family groups to seats at least one row and more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) apart.

The Spain Park graduates, in their black robes and masks, spread out in chairs across the baseball infield.

Besides the nearly 400 students, faculty and administrators on the field, there were easily more than 1,500 people in the stands.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The vast majority of people recover.