Miami-Dade Schools eases mask requirements for high and middle school students – NBC 6 South Florida

Miami-Dade County’s public schools are easing mask requirements for high and middle school students in the district and spearheading low rates of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization in the community.

From now on, these students can refuse to wear masks, announced Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. The relaxation of the mask policy would give parents an opt-out for their children.

BREAKING: @MiamiSup announce a relaxation of Covid security protocols. Middle and middle school students will be able to do without wearing masks from tomorrow. Decision based on achieved Covid metrics. Story on 04/06/07 on @ nbc6. pic.twitter.com/dy7kUz8IOD

– Ari Odzer (@ ariodzernbc6) November 1, 2021

The decision was based on the district meeting seven metrics created by its medical expert task force, including the positivity rate in the community and the number of cases in schools.

“This shows that we continue to be a science-led district, led by data, not opinion,” said Carvalho.

The state of Florida ordered parental de-registration at the beginning of the school year, but Miami-Dade, Broward County Public Schools, and several other school districts opposed the order.

“I know that no matter what we say or do, there will be controversy,” Carvalho said on Monday. “And that’s why, in the midst of so many opinions on a subject and issue that should be driven solely by the expertise of medical institutions and public health officials, we made the decision, fully supported by this panel, that we should follow the science.” . “

A parental waiver was the original plan for back to school in Miami. But the Delta variant spread rapidly in Florida over the summer, causing a surge in cases, hospital admissions, and deaths.

“We’ve improved a lot, we’ve listened to our health professionals and that’s why we’re loosening these protocols,” said Carvalho.

The teachers union called this move a step in the right direction, but some teachers are still nervous.

“And to be honest, you can’t disagree with the data, it seems cases are going down and cases are going down,” said Andy Kearns, who teaches math at Jose Marti MAST Academy, that the students in my classroom continue to wear a mask because I have a weakened immune system. ”

Carvalho believes the reason for the decline in COVID-19 cases in schools is directly related to the school board’s decision to defy the state and make mask compulsory.

“Data inside schools is cheaper than data outside of schools, that says something,” he said. “It’s a protective environment so I think we’ve proven something here.”

Even with the decision, elementary school children are still subject to a mask mandate, which means that the district is still subject to state punishment.

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