Written by: Natalia Perez
The CDC has quietly removed guidelines for phasing out mask mandates in schools from their website. The CDC originally updated their guidelines on Aug. 5 when they implemented a universal indoor mask policy for all students, staff, teachers, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of their vaccination status. However, it was pretty ambiguous when the mask mandates would be lifted. Now, it is clear that there is no end in sight.
Many believe the state who spearheaded this change in CDC guidelines was none other than California. Jonathan Zachreson, an advocate for fully reopening California schools, told Fox News: “We believe that our state, as well as teachers unions, probably influenced this change… It’s basically mask indefinitely in schools forever, and there is no off-ramps. So it’s really disappointing to see that.” Additionally, reports have shown that teachers unions have previously influenced changes to the CDC’s school-related guidance.
Fox News has also indicated that the CDC’s guidelines on Aug. 4 were designed to help school administrators and local health officials transition “out of COVID-19 pandemic precautions as community transmission of COVID-19 reaches low levels or stops.” Now this wording is removed from their current guidelines. Furthermore, the CDC’s guidance on Aug. 4 recommended that schools continue masking and distancing, but included, if they decide to scale back any prevention strategies, “they should remove them one at a time and monitor closely.” This wondering is now removed entirely.
This quiet move frustrates many people because now, even if there are higher vaccination rates, COVID prevalence decreases; the CDC does not recommend removing mask protocols like they previously did. It is incredibly frustrating in California, where many people fight to reopen schools and get rid of masks. Sadly, all these efforts get washed away in the deep blue liberal sea of California.
Photo from: FatCamera /Getty Images
