Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Fauci: High Schools Could Be Mask-Free
CNBC: Conceivable Middle, High Schools Will Be Mask-Free In The Fall: Fauci
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to the White House, said that it’s conceivable for middle schools and high schools to be completely mask-free in the fall. “If the children get vaccinated, it is conceivable that that would actually wind up being a recommendation. We’ll just have to wait and see,” said Fauci. (DeCiccio, 5/20)
NBC News: Teachers Join Front-Line Workers Concerned Over New CDC Mask Guidance
The country's second largest teachers union says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recent change in masking guidance is stressing an "exhausted and sometimes scapegoated workforce," with some states already banning masks in schools, according to a letter obtained by NBC News. "With the school year ending within weeks, we had hoped to have the time this summer to prepare and incorporate any new COVID-19 guidance into our back-to-school plans," Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in the letter to the CDC's director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. (Przybyla, 5/20)
In other schooling news —
Noticias Telemundo: Digital Gap Leaves Latino Students Behind
COVID-19 and the digital divide have taken a severe toll on Latino students' education, from the U.S. to Patagonia. In the U.S., Latinos students have fallen considerably behind during the last year, while in Latin America dropout rates are rising. (Franco, 5/20)
WUSF Public Media: No Quarantine For Fully Vaccinated Students In Sarasota County
Fully vaccinated students in Sarasota County who are exposed to COVID-19 can continue playing sports and going to school unless they show symptoms. Previously, all COVID-exposed students faced mandatory quarantines. The Sarasota Department of Health says the change is based on CDC guidance, which states that fully vaccinated people can resume normal activities. (5/20)
