New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday that he plans to ignore the science and keep the school mask mandate in place come this fall.
As previously reported by Human Events News, the CDC released updated guidance last week on masks at school: students and teachers who are vaccinated do not have to wear them.
However, when asked about the new guidance, de Blasio said: “Look, we’ve been constantly working with the CDC, but we also in this case have been very careful - given everything the city’s been through - so I’m absolutely confident based on this guidance and everything else we’ve seen that we’ll be able to get all our kids back in school in September.”
“But for now,” he said, “we’re sticking with the idea that wearing the masks is a smart thing to do in schools. We’ll keep assessing as we go along, but I think for now it still makes sense.”
He added that his office would provide an update within the first few weeks of the school year, per Fox News.
New York City isn’t the only place leaving the mask mandate in place. Last Friday, California state health officials said masks would still be required in schools statewide.
“Mask is a simple and effective intervention that does not interfere with offering full in-person instruction,” California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said. “At the outset of the new year, students should be able to walk into school without worrying about whether they will feel different or singled out for being vaccinated or unvaccinated - treating all kids the same will support a calm and supportive school environment.”