Debate Rages Over Masks In PA Schools: Latest Updates

SOUTHEASTERN PA — With guidance from county and state government taking the form of recommendations and not mandates, Pennsylvania's largest teachers union is urging schools to require masks for all students and staff.

The latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that masks should be worn in all K-12 schools, for both fully vaccinated individuals and the unvaccinated. It's a recommendation that has been repeated by several counties around southeastern Pennsylvania. Montgomery, Bucks, Chester and Delaware counties all are recommending masks in schools, while Philadelphia is requiring them.

"We strongly urge district leaders across the commonwealth to follow the CDC guidance and adopt universal masking policies for the new school year," Pennsylvania State Education Association President Rich Asked said in a statement. "Masking up at school is essential in the face of the surging delta variant that affects young people more aggressively than the original strain of the virus."

The decision remains in the hands of local school districts, some of which have become embroiled in controversy as they debate specific health and safety policies. While some districts, like Lower Merion and Norristown, have chosen to move forward with a universal mask mandate, others are only requiring facial coverings for certain age groups, or if cases reach a certain level.

In the Springfield (Delaware County) and North Penn school districts, for example, masks are only are required for elementary students.

The teachers union, along with health officials, point to several factors in support of a universal mandate. For one, elementary school children are not yet old enough to receive the vaccine, leaving them vulnerable to infection. There is also concern that the much more contagious delta variant can be spread by individuals with no symptoms, and that it impacts young people more aggressively than the original strain. Finally, in places like Bucks County, hospitals expressed concern about masks in schools as they're beginning to operate close to capacity when treating pediatric illness.

"Even under normal circumstances, hospitals in Bucks County have limited ability to treat severe pediatric cases of any type," Health Department Director Dr. David Damsker said in a statement. "As our hospitals must refer all serious cases to pediatric specialty hospitals in the region, many of those same specialty pediatric hospitals are already operating at close to capacity because of non-COVID illnesses and staffing issues. While our COVID-19 cases among school-aged children remain very low, hospitals are growing concerned that any pediatric COVID-19 cases could stress the system."

Askey added that masks were crucial to keep students in school for the entire year and avoid any future shutdowns.

“We are at a crossroads, and what our schools decide now will set the stage for what this school year looks like. If we’re going to be able to keep our schools open for in-person instruction all year, we need to make the right decisions now.”

Still, counties are not forcing the matter. Officials have expressed optimism in the strength of their relationship with school administrators. Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said that she meets regularly with all of the county's superintendents, and said she has faith they'll make the right calls.

Similarly, Chester County Health Department Director Jeanne Franklin pointed to the very cooperative relationship the Department has had in the past year through the pandemic with school districts. She did not think it would be helpful "for us to come in and try to enforce in their operation."

"The schools know what to do. They understand the advantages of layered mitigation," Franklin told one caller during a recent public meeting.

Pennsylvania has seen its cases rise statewide for weeks now, with its positivity rate going up to 6.9 percent from 6 percent over the past week. The state also reported 11,669 new cases over the past seven days, an increase of more than 2,300 from the week before.

With reporting from Patch correspondents Marlene Lang, Max Bennett, and Kate Fishman