All Kids Older Than 2 Should Mask-Up At School, Pediatrics Group Advises
The advice is from the American Academy of Pediatrics and applies regardless of vaccination status. The group also advocates in-person learning and strict following of CDC guidelines. Separately, news outlets across the country cover new masking rules and debate on the matter.
USA Today:
Pediatrics Group Says Kids Should Wear Masks At School
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued recommendations Monday for the 2021-22 school year that include everyone older than age 2 wearing masks, regardless of vaccination status. The academy also "strongly recommends" in-person learning and urges all who are eligible be vaccinated to protect against COVID-19. AAP said it amplifies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for building ventilation, testing, quarantining, cleaning and disinfection in the updated guidance. (Bacon, Aspegren and Hayes, 7/19)
In news about mask mandates —
USA Today:
Arkansas, Missouri And NY Discuss Mask Mandates As COVID Cases Spike
Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that vaccinated individuals did not need to wear masks indoors two months ago, experts now are calling for people to "vax it and mask it." Los Angeles County this weekend mandated that people mask indoors, though the county sheriff announced he wouldn't enforce it. Other California counties also recommended mask-wearing indoors. Arkansas, Missouri and New York are weighing mask mandates as cases spike in those states. And the American Academy of Pediatrics issued recommendations Monday for the 2021-22 school year that include everyone older than age 2 wearing masks, regardless of vaccination status. (Aspegren, 7/20)
Bloomberg:
NYC Mask Mandates: De Blasio Won't Require Them Inside Despite Delta Variant, LA
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he has no plans to renew indoor mask mandates despite a spike in cases stemming from the delta Covid-19 variant and a move by Los Angeles to again require residents to wear masks inside. “The simple answer is no,” de Blasio said when asked about the issue during a Monday briefing. “Masks have value unquestionably, but they’re not going to the root of the problem. Vaccination is.” The seven-day average Covid-19 positivity rate in the city jumped to 1.69% on Saturday, more than double the percentage of residents who tested positive from last month. (Banjo, 7/19)
Newsweek:
Kentucky Gov. Pushes For Masks After Fully-Vaxxed Lawmakers Catch COVID Amid Delta Surge
Democratic Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky issued new coronavirus recommendations Monday pushing for more mask-wearing amid a rise in Kentucky cases, even among the fully-vaccinated, driven by the Delta variant. During a press conference on Monday, Beshear said after months of dropping case rates, Kentucky is now seeing a rise in positive coronavirus cases, likely driven by the more contagious Delta variant. There has also been an increase in hospitalizations. (Pedroja, 7/19)
San Francisco Chronicle:
Another 4 Counties In Greater Bay Area Renew Call For Indoor Masking As Delta Variant Rises
Four more counties in the greater Bay Area on Monday joined their neighbors in recommending all residents, regardless of vaccination status, resume wearing masks indoors. Health officers from Napa, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties issued a joint statement advising people use masks in public indoor spaces “out of an abundance of caution,” as cases climb and the highly infectious delta variant begins to dominate. On Friday, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma counties issued similar recommendations. (Allday, 7/19)
Los Angeles Times:
Will Anyone Enforce L.A. County's COVID Mask Mandate?
Los Angeles County’s indoor mask mandate is now the law of the land. But how — or whether — it will be enforced remains an open question. Technically, those who violate the new mask rules, or any other provisions included in the county’s latest health officer order, can be cited or fined. But practically speaking, many health and law enforcement officials throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have favored educating residents about the rules and urging adherence rather than writing a flurry of tickets. (Money, 7/19)
The Boston Globe:
Provincetown Issues New COVID-19 Advisory Amid Uptick In Cases, With ‘Vast Majority’ Detected In Vaccinated People
Provincetown officials have issued a new mask-wearing advisory after a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases at the height of its busy summer tourist season, in which a “vast majority” were detected in vaccinated people, alarming public health experts. The town is advising people to wear masks indoors, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status, “where social distancing cannot be achieved.” The advisory also urges businesses to require customers show proof of vaccination when social distancing is not possible. From July 1 through July 16, the town has reported 132 confirmed positive cases to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the advisory said. Of those cases, 89 are Massachusetts residents, 39 of whom live in Barnstable County. (Kaufman, 7/19)
