Gov. Kathy Hochul had been adamant about implementing the mask-wearing mandate in public schools since taking office earlier in the week, but the official decree didn’t arrive until Friday night. A spokesperson confirmed an official order requiring that students, faculty and staff of all grades wear masks in public and private schools.
“The Department has introduced an emergency regulation that requires all students, teachers and staff of all public and private schools (P-12) in New York State to wear masks inside school buildings,” the statement reads. release. “The Department has notified public and private schools / districts throughout the state.”
The biosecurity measure comes at a time when children under the age of 12 have yet to gain approval for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the Delta variant makes up the majority of new cases.
In Jericho, Long Island, the fall semester began Thursday and students and educators will be required to wear face masks at all times. The mask is not required for students who eat lunch outside or for those who participate in outdoor sports, said Superintendent Hank Grishman.
Superintendents, school boards and teachers told Hochul during a Zoom call a few days before he took office that they wanted the mandate fulfilled, he said in interviews earlier in the week.
“They told me they want this to happen. They want to be able to meet with parents and say that this is a state mandate, that we have to follow it,” Hochul told NPR. “I have no problem, no problem assuming that responsibly. I will.”
The governor added in an interview with NY1 on Thursday that she is also trying to find a way to make vaccination a requirement because she currently does not have that authority.
He has not yet given any indication of what they might entail, but promised to provide more details “soon.”
Several teachers and other workers in New York City and across the country have rejected the mandates for the use of masks and vaccines, but as COVID-19 cases continue to rise, more local governments have begun to implement the rules.
With the full approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the FDA earlier this week, Hochul said there is “no longer an excuse” for those who doubt the vaccines due to the emergency use authorization.
New York City announced this week a mandatory vaccination policy for all school personnel, with no way to opt out through frequent testing. This sparked a massive demonstration in front of the city hall on Thursday.
“I am a mother. This is a time of great anxiety for every mom and dad or anyone who sends children to school, and I want to alleviate this concern by saying that your child will be protected. We know that masks work and we will work to get vaccines. and we will do everything we can to make sure that environment is safe so that children can begin to learn again, “said Hochul.
Group leaders representing teachers and superintendents have expressed support for the universal use of masks in schools. New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said the union also supported Hochul’s decision to require periodic testing for unvaccinated staff, but said it is “critical that educators continue to have a voice in implementing the requirements. of vaccines and other COVID policies at the local level. ”
Over the next several weeks, Hochul said he wanted to spend time strengthening his senior staff, working with partners to come up with new solutions to current problems, and traveling across the state to meet New Yorkers and “guarantee their support.”
He also plans to work with communities with low vaccination rates to boost protection across the state.
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