Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Schools In Texas, Florida Defy Mask Mandate Bans
AP: Big Florida School Districts Defy Governor Over Mask Mandate
Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties became the third and fourth school districts in Florida to adopt stricter mask mandates Wednesday, a day after school boards in Broward and Alachua counties faced threats of severe penalties for defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. The Hillsborough County school board, which oversees the state’s third-largest district with more than 206,000 students in the Tampa area, voted 5-2 to adopt a 30-day mask mandate with a medical opt-out for students, teachers and staff. Most school districts have adopted optional mask policies or given options to parents to easily opt out of requirements. The new policy takes effect Thursday. (Frisaro and Licon, 8/18)
Politico: Miami, Tampa Schools Defy DeSantis On Masks Despite Threats
Two of the largest school districts in Florida and the nation on Wednesday bucked the DeSantis administration by passing mask mandates for all students just one day after other school districts in the state were put on notice for taking similar action. By requiring masks, the school districts encompassing Miami and the Tampa area are violating emergency rules from Gov. Ron DeSantis and state agencies meant to thwart local Covid-19 mandates. The Republican governor has shown no desire to turn down the heat on defiant school districts, leaving them open to dire sanctions like officials being ousted from office. (Atterbury, 8/18)
And in news from Texas —
Dallas Morning News: Abbott Takes To Twitter To Attack Biden, House Dems — But Is Mum On Health After COVID-19 Diagnosis
Gov. Greg Abbott, who on Tuesday announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, provided no update on his health Wednesday but was active on Twitter, where he remarked on various political issues. In a video message posted to social media several hours after his diagnosis was announced, the governor appeared healthy and indicated he was feeling fine. “Also, [I] want you to know that I have received the COVID-19 vaccine, and that may be one reason why I’m really not feeling any symptoms right now,” he said in the video. “I have no fever, no aches and pains, no other types of symptoms.” (Choi, 8/18)
The Washington Post: ‘It’s The Height Of Hypocrisy’: After Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Contracts Covid-19, Democrats Ramp Up Calls For Mask Mandates
The news that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has tested positive for the coronavirus has prompted well-wishes from members of both parties — but also calls from some Democrats for Abbott to drop his opposition to mask and vaccination mandates for schools and businesses in his state. ... “I wish Governor Abbott well — no one deserves to be sick or to suffer from this unyielding virus,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement Wednesday. “My hope is that the governor will realize how vulnerable we are in the face of this health crisis, stop playing politics, and do what is necessary for the health of all Texans.” (Sonmez and Moravec, 8/18)
Houston Chronicle: Texas School Districts Grapple With How To Enforce Mask Mandates
As students return to campus across Texas, some school districts are requiring masks in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on such orders — with little consensus about how to ensure students and staff comply. Houston ISD is among those taking a hardline approach to enforcing their mask mandates, with threats of being sent home and disciplinary action for students who refuse to cover their faces. Other districts said they have no such plans and are hopeful that all students and staff members will abide by the face covering requirement without stirring up drama. (Scherer, 8/18)
Houston Chronicle: Experts Predict Texas COVID Deaths Will Peak In Coming Weeks
As the delta variant of the coronavirus infects more than 10,000 Texans a day and strains the resources of hospitals, state officials must now look toward the final stage of the third COVID wave: fatalities. While hospitalization numbers are nearing the heights they reached during the state’s most fatal surge in January, public health projections indicate that the latest wave will result in fewer deaths — mostly because senior citizens are widely vaccinated and hospital patients are now much younger. Still, state health officials are preparing for the worst, preemptively ordering a fleet of five mortuary trailers from the federal government in case infections spiral. (Harris, 8/18)
