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State DPI Recommending Schools Require Masks for the Next School Year

Tuesday, August 10th, 2021 -- 12:00 PM

(Raymond Neuper, WRN) The state department of public instruction is recommending that schools require masks and encourage vaccinations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Department of Public Instruction is issuing new guidance to school districts that recommends masking and vaccinations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. State Superintendent JIll Underly says those recommendations could change in the future, but that masking will be the best way to keep kids safe for now. 

"Certainly if transmission were to go down, and let's say vaccinations go up, then yes certainly we could reevaluate. But right now we're making this guidance and the strong recommendation based on the information that we have, and the information is pointing to wearing masks."

Underly stresses that these are recommendations, but that they're hoping school boards follow through.  "That's why I put that out there and I hope people you know will weigh all of the options that they have but really follow the science, and what the science says."

A number of school districts have already said that they will be going in person and maskless for next school year, but Underly points out that many students in these schools aren't able to get the vaccine because they're under the age of 12. 

Underly says the recommendations come with the aim of preserving face to face learning in the 2021 school year.  "Parents want their schools open, teachers want their schools open, school districts want the face-to-face learning, and to do that masking is the number one way to ensure that you can do that, other than making sure people can get the vaccine."

Underly says that vaccinations in older students and staff members will remain the best way to prevent the spread of the virus. Experts say the newer Delta variant of the virus is more likely to infect young children than original versions of the virus.


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