As the delta variant spreads across the U.S., masking mandates in schools have become a major point of political contention.
Children now account for over a quarter of all new COVID-19 cases in the U.S., with nearly half a million children testing positive for the virus in the last two weeks alone.
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[ SEE: These States Have COVID-19 Mask Mandates ]
In many states these cases have increased exponentially in the past weeks as schools returned to in-person instruction while the delta variant continues to spread. Over half of 12- to 17-year-olds are at least partially vaccinated, but children under 12 are not eligible for the vaccine.
According to a new analysis from USAFacts, there’s no unified response to masking requirements in schools at the state level despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance suggesting masking in schools. Policies can vary drastically across state and county borders.
More than half of all states have no set policy on masking at educational institutions, leaving the decision up to local and county governments to decide when and how to enforce mask mandates.
Only 16 states primarily on the East and West coasts and Washington, D.C., have mask mandates in schools, as well as some states such as Louisiana where cases and deaths have shot up in recent months. Nevada has a specific mask mandate for K-12 students in counties with 100,000 or more residents.
In eight states, mostly in the South and Southwest, masking mandates are banned for school students entirely.
Mask mandates, both for schools and in general, have come to the forefront of political debates in recent weeks as the federal government continues to put pressure on the states with masking bans. In Florida the fight over mask mandates recently led to a court decision to maintain a ban on masking, while in Iowa the courts just blocked enforcement of the state’s ban.
[ MORE: Feds to Probe 5 States Over Mask Mandate Bans ]
After the delta variant spread rapidly throughout his state, causing a rise in cases and deaths, Arkansas’ Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson began backtracking on a law he previously signed banning mask mandates. Texas’ Supreme Court ruled the state’s masking ban is valid, but it is no longer widely enforced as Texas currently leads the country in seven-day average COVID-19 cases.
Arizona schools have been defiant and are requiring masks despite the state’s ban on mask mandates.
Tags: public schools, coronavirus, pandemic, public health, children’s health, students, teachers, education, K-12 education, United States
As the delta variant spreads across the U.S., masking mandates in schools have become a major point of political contention.
Children now account for over a quarter of all new COVID-19 cases in the U.S., with nearly half a million children testing positive for the virus in the last two weeks alone.
[ SEE: These States Have COVID-19 Mask Mandates ]
In many states these cases have increased exponentially in the past weeks as schools returned to in-person instruction while the delta variant continues to spread. Over half of 12- to 17-year-olds are at least partially vaccinated, but children under 12 are not eligible for the vaccine.
According to a new analysis from USAFacts, there’s no unified response to masking requirements in schools at the state level despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance suggesting masking in schools. Policies can vary drastically across state and county borders.
More than half of all states have no set policy on masking at educational institutions, leaving the decision up to local and county governments to decide when and how to enforce mask mandates.
Only 16 states primarily on the East and West coasts and Washington, D.C., have mask mandates in schools, as well as some states such as Louisiana where cases and deaths have shot up in recent months. Nevada has a specific mask mandate for K-12 students in counties with 100,000 or more residents.
In eight states, mostly in the South and Southwest, masking mandates are banned for school students entirely.
Mask mandates, both for schools and in general, have come to the forefront of political debates in recent weeks as the federal government continues to put pressure on the states with masking bans. In Florida the fight over mask mandates recently led to a court decision to maintain a ban on masking, while in Iowa the courts just blocked enforcement of the state’s ban.
[ MORE: Feds to Probe 5 States Over Mask Mandate Bans ]
After the delta variant spread rapidly throughout his state, causing a rise in cases and deaths, Arkansas’ Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson began backtracking on a law he previously signed banning mask mandates. Texas’ Supreme Court ruled the state’s masking ban is valid, but it is no longer widely enforced as Texas currently leads the country in seven-day average COVID-19 cases.
Arizona schools have been defiant and are requiring masks despite the state’s ban on mask mandates.
Tags: public schools, coronavirus, pandemic, public health, children’s health, students, teachers, education, K-12 education, United States
