Will You Ask Your Kids to Wear Masks At School? [POLL]
There's a lot of questions and concern about the upcoming school year with the recent spike in new COVID-19 cases and the Delta variant. Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of infection for both Coronavirus and Delta strain. The news gets worse. Doctors and health professionals across the state are reporting more and more cases among young people. A lot of the new cases are persons below 18.
The entire Nation is struggling with the virus and all the variants, but it's gotten really bad here in S.W. Oklahoma and across the Sooner State. Health experts continue to warn that both vaccinated and un-vaccinated persons are still very much at risk and encourage everyone to follow the most recent CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines.
The updated guidelines call for face masks whenever indoors and around other people regardless of vaccination status. Recently this update has prompted the City of Lawton to reinstate all of their former COVID-19 policies and procedures, which includes masking up at all city owned facilities and properties. You can get all the details here. Both local hospitals have also returned their COVID-19 protocols as well.
With the kids heading back to school next week a lot of parents and students are concerned, understandably. In Oklahoma face masks in public schools will not be mandatory. Governor Kevin Stitt signed legislation (Senate Bill 658) that prohibits schools and districts from making masks mandatory unless a state of emergency is declared. It also restricts schools and universities from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations.
All students and faculty have the option to wear one of they want to, it's just not required. At this time the Governor says he doesn't have plans to declare an emergency and instead asks that people take responsibility for their own health and safety and do what makes them comfortable. To have the freedom to do what's best for you and have the freedom to make the choice yourself.
While masks won't be mandatory will you be asking your child to wear a face mask while at school? Take the quick poll and let us know your thoughts.