Mask mandates in schools should be a priority. We are parents, community members, health care workers, and concerned citizens who understand the importance of our children wearing masks in schools indoors until they can all be vaccinated. It is important to keep our schools open for in person learning, with us for disruptions as possible, and protect our most vulnerable learners. The Centers for Disease Control guidance and the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance all strongly encourage and recommend universal masking in schools. Physicians almost universally agree with this guidance. It is very important that recommendations and guidance come from a state level, as some cities not only do not have mask mandates, but do not require quarantine or masking for exposed children. Additionally, distance learning options are not universally available for children who have been exposed to COVID-19 and children who are out sick with COVID-19.
In our state, vaccination rates are below average. COVID-19 is not over yet, especially for our young children who do not yet have the option of being vaccinated and have comorbidities making COVID-19 infection dangerous. For example, many children with asthma who have suffered from COVID-19 are not back to their baseline and are unable to participate in sports at a level they were able to prior to infection. Most children had no problem wearing masks in school last year. Since mask mandates have been lifted, many schools in Florida, Georgia, Arizona, and Indiana have been shut down. We do not want our children to have a disrupted school year. We understand the Delta variant is significantly more transmissible than the original coronavirus. The delta variant is also much more dangerous for children. We thank you all for your hard work.
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