COVID- 19 cases are continuing to increase in number. With that, schools require students to wear masks.
The holiday season and the winter break had schools and local authorities predicting an increase in COVID-19 cases.
However, even before some schools started their winter break, a few areas in the country began mandating their students wear masks again.
According to ABC, in response to an increase in respiratory diseases, Pennsylvania and New Jersey school districts have announced that they will begin mandating the use of face masks among students and staff members starting after the holiday break.
Schools in Michigan and Massachusetts later announced the same mandate, while schools in Chicago require their students to take a rapid test before they resume after winter break.
Mask mandates in New Jersey schools
Many schools have begun requiring students to wear masks again to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
These steps have been taken in response to increased COVID-19 cases reported nationwide.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that the number of weekly cases has climbed over the past five weeks from 309,272 to 402,525.
After returning from their holiday break, students in two different school districts in New Jersey will be expected to wear face masks inside the schools.
The Camden City School District, which has around 7,500 children enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade, will mandate the use of face masks inside schools for at least two weeks, or until January 17.
Paterson Public Schools announced that the new regulation would become mandatory beginning on January 3 for all their 25,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
According to data from the CDC, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza infections are both at high levels. However, they appear to have peaked in the middle of November and December, and cases are now dropping.
Mask mandates in Chelsea Public Schools
Furthermore, Chelsea Public Schools also announced their new effort to prevent COVID-19, requiring students to wear masks on school premises. The decision was released to the community through a letter.
In the letter, the school explained that the decision was made because the CDC had deemed Suffolk County to be at "high risk" for the transmission of COVID-19.
As a result of this designation, it is strongly suggested that everyone wear a mask whenever they are inside the school premises.
All students attending Chelsea Public Schools will be required to wear masks beginning on Monday, January 9.
Masks are required to be worn at all times in school facilities, except while students are eating or drinking.
According to Dr. Almi G. Abeyta, "Mask wearing will continue to remain mandatory for any person visiting our school health offices and anyone returning to school from a five-day quarantine following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis."
