Tragically, the COVID-19 pandemic is surging once again in the U.S. Between low rates of vaccination, the delta variant, and increasingly open public events, case numbers began to shoot up in July 2021 --so much so that the Center for Disease Control actually changed their recommendations for masking. Specifically, the CDC says that everyone, regardless of vaccination should wear a mask in public spaces where there is high transmission (most of the U.S.) as well as all K-12 schools in the fall.
We know that some people and organizations are hostile to the simple and lifesaving measure of universal mask wearing, largely due to misinformation. That's why we need to mandate mask wearing in schools this fall! Will you sign the petition calling for all K-12 schools to require universal mask wearing?
Children are legally required to be at school. If there is no mask mandate, we are legally requiring kids to be put in significant danger. The delta variant is more contagious and the assumption that COVID-19 doesn't harm kids is altogether false. In fact, kids are at increased risk, particularly now that so many of them cannot yet get vaccinated. Even vaccinated people are still at risk of catching the virus, albeit a much tamer version that is unlikely to make them very sick.
As of now, kids over the age of 12 can be vaccinated. That leaves a huge amount of younger kids vulnerable, not to mention the kids who are old enough but who have not been vaccinated for whatever reason. Additionally, anti-vaccination misinformation is running wild across the country, but even more so in certain areas. It's unfair to put children at risk due to dangerous health misinformation in their area.
The simplest answer is what the CDC is proposing: kids go back to school with universal masking among staff and students, regardless of vaccination status.
Sign the petition if you want all schools to require universal masking in the fall!
