Pittsburgh-area schools are re-assessing their mask policies for the fall after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Tuesday — now recommending that all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.
The CDC cited the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people as the reason for these changes. They also now recommend that vaccinated people wear masks indoors in public spaces in parts of the country where coronavirus cases are climbing.
At Mars Area School District, Superintendent Mark Gross said the school will continue to follow the district’s current health and safety plan. The school board approved it last week with a 7-0 vote. He said the district will make changes if necessary, though.
The plan says that face masks will be worn on a voluntary basis unless the Pennsylvania Department of Health puts a mandate in place.
Maggi Barton, a deputy press secretary for the Department of Health, said the administration is not considering reinstating a statewide mandate.
“However, we recommend Pennsylvanians, including schools, follow CDC guidance. Further, businesses, and local governments may adopt stricter COVID prevention strategies, including mask requirements,” she said, also stressing the importance of people getting fully vaccinated.
Schools must state their mask policy in a health and safety plan due at the end of the month.
Press secretary Kendall Alexander said the Pennsylvania Department of Education will recommend and “continuously follow” CDC guidelines.
Other schools are weighing this new recommendation as well. A mask mandate has been hotly debated at South Fayette School District, where nearly 350 people signed a petition asking that students not be required to wear masks during the 2021-22 school year.
Acting Superintendent Bille Rondinelli said through a spokesperson that the school hasn’t made any decisions about a mask mandate. She said the school board will consider the new CDC guidelines along with state recommendations at Tuesday night’s meeting. The health plan will be announced July 30.
On the other end of the spectrum, Pittsburgh Public Schools are already requiring universal masking for the upcoming school year. According to its proposed health plan, teachers, staff and students must wear masks while inside district buildings and on buses.
Rebecca Johnson: rjohnson@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rebeccapaigejo
First Published: July 27, 2021, 11:17 p.m.
