COLUMBUS – It will be back behind the masks for students and teachers in Ohio’s largest school district this fall.
The Columbus City Schools Thursday announced that it was updating its plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 when schools return to in-person learning later this month.
“Safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall is a priority, and masks provide an extra layer of protection in reducing transmission of the COVID-19 virus,” superintendent and CEO Dr. Talisa Dixon said.
Students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear masks inside buildings and on school buses for at least the beginning of the school year, the district announced.
Dixon says the decision was made based on recommendations from The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consultation with Columbus Public Health.
“Throughout this pandemic, we have relied on the guidance of our public health officials. We feel that this is the best decision for our District and community,” Dixon said.
“The pandemic is not over and case numbers are rising again because of the Delta variant and low vaccination rates in our community,” said Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts.
In addition to the mask requirement, students will have to maintain three feet of social distancing whenever practical and water fountains will not be used.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended universal masking in schools for everyone over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status.
The CEO of the Ohio Chapter of the AAP, Melissa Wervey Arnold, says getting kids back in class is crucial for their mental, physical, emotional and academic health and that masks are the safest route since kids younger than 12 are still not eligible to get a COVID vaccine.
“Kids themselves might not spread the virus as readily as we’ve seen adults do it or might not have the same negative health consequences. We still know that they can spread it and they can spread it to people who are more vulnerable, especially the older population,” Arnold said.
A bill was introduced in the Ohio Senate last week that would prohibit schools and businesses in Ohio from mandating masks.
Governor Mike DeWine has indicated he does not plan to implement another mask mandate.
He recently signed a bill banning public schools from requiring vaccines that have not received full FDA approval, which the COVID-19 vaccines have not.