The Faculty District of Philadelphia is mandating that college students and workers put on masks for the primary 10 days of the college 12 months, and is requiring that pre-kindergarten attendees mask-up all 12 months.

Officers from the college district and metropolis made the announcement in a letter to oldsters on Friday, stating that after the primary 10 days of the college 12 months, from Aug. 29 via Sept. 9, most faculties will go mask-optional.

The letter states that when the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention COVID-19 group transmission degree is excessive, college students and workers can be required to put on masks in faculties. When the extent is medium, masking is “strongly advisable.”

College students and workers on the district’s Pre-Ok Head Begin program, the district’s income-driven pre-kindergarten program for ages 3-5, can be required to put on a masks for the whole 2022-2023 faculty 12 months, in accordance with the announcement.

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College students play outdoors at recess as coronavirus illness (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Reuters/Hannah Beier)

“For the primary 10 days of the brand new faculty 12 months – from August 29 via September 9 – all college students and workers can be required to put on masks whereas in class, whatever the COVID-19 Neighborhood Stage,” the announcement reads. “College students and workers at PreK Head Begin applications are nonetheless required to put on masks always, whatever the Neighborhood Stage.”

There are additionally situations when an remoted masks requirement may be carried out, corresponding to a school-wide or classroom COVID-19 outbreaks, or when getting back from prolonged breaks and holidays. 

The district can also be implementing a “masks to remain” program, stating that college students and workers who’ve been uncovered to COVID-19 can keep in class however should put on a masks for 10 days.

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College students return to high school as coronavirus illness (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Reuters/Hannah Beier)

If a pupil exams optimistic for COVID-19, they’re required to isolate at house for a minimum of 5 days, however can return to high school afterward in the event that they’re symptom-free “however should put on a high-quality (N95 or KN95) masks for a further 5 days and should eat in a chosen space,” the announcement reads.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox Information medical analyst and professor of drugs at New York College Langone Medical Heart, mentioned there’s “no public well being worth” in making college students and workers mask-up for the primary 10 days of the college 12 months.

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A pupil displays her lunch bag on a wall in a hallway as coronavirus illness (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Reuters/Hannah Beier)

“The entire thing is, mandates aren’t working in any respect. So, , they only obscure the query about whether or not there’s any public well being worth in really doing any of this. I imply, I feel when you’re at a excessive threat, there may be. So if I used to be in an space with numerous unfold, and I used to be at excessive threat, I would select to put on a masks indoors. However there is not any proof that these mandates doing something.

Siegel added that “mandates for ten days are like an indication of hypocrisy.”