Posted on 07/27/2021 11:29:15 AM PDT by lightman
Improvements to school ventilation systems and doubling down on disinfection and social distancing measures are not going to be enough.
As schools across Pennsylvania and the country gear up for the return of students, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday is expected to issue recommendations that everyone in K-12 schools wear a mask, regardless of their vaccination status.
Media reports out of the regular updates from the public health government agency were signaling changes to the schools masking guidelines.
“New CDC recommendations will say everyone in K-12 schools should wear a mask, regardless of their vaccination status,” CNN tweeted out around noon on Tuesday.
In the wake of surging infection rates from the Delta variant, the CDC is also urging vaccinated people in certain areas of the country to resume wearing masks to protect themselves from the highly virulent strain of the coronavirus.
The CDC is also recommending that people in areas with high or substantial Covid-19 transmission should resume wearing masks, even if they are vaccinated against the pandemic.
At the moment, no Pennsylvania school districts are requiring masks to be worn inside school buildings, but that could change.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education, following the current CDC guidance, recommends face coverings be worn by the unvaccinated students, teachers and staff, but does not require them.
Pennsylvania reported 986 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, more than six times the daily average of early July.
The number hospitalized with COVID-19 also continued a sharp upturn, with 430 people hospitalized, up from about 260 at the beginning of last week. The number in intensive care rose to 97, up from 86 on Monday.
The state’s schools guidance also states that the CDC recommends but doesn’t require masks for individuals participating in sports and extra-curricular activities.
Already across the country, some school systems have updated their requirements in the wake of surging COVID-19 infection rates.
California, for instance, is requiring that all K-12 students and adults in K-12 school settings wear masks indoors when students are present. Even individuals who are exempt from mask mandates due to medical conditions must wear a face shield with a drape on the bottom edge or another nonrestrictive alternative if their condition permits it. California schools must provide students with a face covering if they forget to bring one of their own.
The Delta variant is more contagious, making it capable of spreading faster. The World Health Organization called it “the fastest and the fittest.” That means it has the ability to accelerate the pandemic, especially among people who aren’t vaccinated.
As of last week, the Delta variant had not been especially prevalent in Pennsylvania, accounting for 5.3% of new cases. In Missouri, by contrast, it was accounting for nearly 75% of cases; and accounted for 29% of new cases in New Jersey, 19% in New York and 6% in Ohio.
At Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, however, the Delta variant accounted for 10 of 14 positive test results two weeks ago.
Gov. Tom Wolf this week said he isn’t considering a return to tighter restrictions, but will continue to encourage Pennsylvanias to get the vaccination to control COVID-19.
Recommendations are not legally binding.
No and the court said so but they do have quite the blow torch of a bully pulpit. The CDC can’t force states to go along with its rules but some states will do so voluntarily.
The CDC cannot mandate anything. Our local schools have already announced a masks optional plan for the year
Using a disposable facemask to protect against an airborne respiratory virus is like using chicken wire to keep out mosquitos.
They aren’t masks.
They’re muzzles.
Yes, homeschooling is the way to go.
Well now you've added one more myth to the list of Sweden myths. In Sweden 40% have had two shots and 60% at least one shot. Sweden failed to prevent death, with 10 times more death per capita than Norway. At the same time their economy crashed in Q2 last year, by the same amount as ours. Mask wearing wasn't relevant when nobody went out.
The good part is they kept their kids in school throughout and they will be much healthier because of that. They also protected their elderly, vaccinating them first. The bottom line is Sweden's approach, leaving it up to individual choice, is laudable. The outcome is not the worst, 0.14% of the population died, but like I said the other Scandinavian countries did better.
CNN giddy over it. I will never understand these effing retards.
To his credit, Governor Wolf has stated (as of yesterday) that he is not going to implement any mitigation efforts.
62.5% of PA is fully vaxxed...he wants to keep relying on the vaccine and encouraging people to be vaccinated.
Plus he persuaded Biden to hire “cousin it” Dr. Richard (Dickless) aka “Rachel Levine”....with it out of the picture I can watch Wolf’s press conferences again.
Empty the schools and decertify the teacher's unions.
Simon says put on the mask, Simon says take off the mask, Simon says get a shot, Simon says put on the mask….
Some governors will not do this, or so they say.
“...the vast majority of school systems, which are dominated by liberals, will adopt the CDC recommendations.”
My local school where I sub, was in session all of 2020-2021 with masks optional. At the beginning of the year distancing was kind of maintained but as the year progressed and kids weren’t dropping like flies, this was relaxed. Made a mess of the schedule with classes coming and going at separate times, odd lunch hours, etc. Everyone was sick of it by the end of the year.
So people will know: The CDC started out as the Office of National Defense Malaria Control Activities (1942) and ran the National Malaria Eradication Program (NMEP).
Ironically, back then hydroxychloroquine was invented (in 1945) as a treatment for malaria.
You’d think they’d be proud of their past as a malaria-control agency and that they would champion hydroxychloroquine.
Precisely. This doesn’t stand up to even a basic challenge. If this mandate comes down, expect the preliminary injunctions to start flying.
Just remember: The CDC isn’t a law-making entity.
Around these parts in Pennsylvania the local message from the Superintendent in one school district was something like.
“You won’t have to wear masks in the fall students and staff”
“You won’t have to be vaccinated to be here students and staff”
We’ll see what happens.
The Dems will beam with pride at a federal order and the Reps will pass the buck to Biden and file a lawsuit.
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