Dr. Howard Zucker outlines new guidance for mask-wearing in schools and camps expected to be put in place Monday, barring any objections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). School guidance and camp guidance would be the same set of rules.
- Indoors, mask use will be strongly encouraged but not required for students, campers, and staff/teachers/counselors who are not fully vaccinated.
- Outdoors, masks are not required; students, campers, and staff/teachers/counselors who are not fully vaccinated are “encouraged” to wear a mask in certain higher-risk circumstances.
- Both indoors and outdoors, students, campers, and staff who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks.
- Schools and camps may choose to implement stricter standards.
Dr. Zucker cites the fact that many camps are held on school grounds and usually deal with children that aligning the guidance for both is the right move. He also asked the CDC to review the guidelines to make sure there is no data or science that would contradict the new rules.
The state teacher’s union, NYSUT, asks schools districts to look at their local conditions and connect with their communities to guide their course of action.
“Announcing on a Friday afternoon that masks will now be optional for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people in schools starting Monday — with only three weeks remaining in the school year — is whiplash-inducing news. Short of any additional guidance from the state or the CDC before Monday, we implore school districts to closely evaluate local conditions and connect with their educators and parents to decide the best course of action for protecting their school community.”
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