BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Holiday gatherings are expected to contribute to the rise in coronavirus cases across the country.
And that has led some school districts in Pennsylvania to require students to wear masks for the first 10 days of classes following the winter break.
- Some schools are requiring masks for 10 days after winter break
- Dr. Jeffrey Jahre says individual districts should decide what's best for their students
- The number of teachers and students out sick should be considered, Jahre said
Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network's senior vice president of medical and academic affairs and section chief emeritus of infectious diseases, said a one-size-fits-all mask mandate can be counterproductive.
And the choice to bring back masks should be left to the individual school districts, Jahre said.
“If teachers feel like you're particularly vulnerable, then what you can do is you can wear a mask and you can wear a proper mask that will help protect you,” Jahre said.
“If you have a child that has increased vulnerabilities, then I think it can be stressed for that child to try and wear a mask effectively.”
"I think each school area, each school actually has to look at this for themselves and decide what the right decision is."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network
Jahre said St. Luke’s is trying to move away from absolute mask mandates.
“They may or may not apply to various areas and I think each school area, each school actually has to look at this for themselves and decide what the right decision is,” he said.
He added that each district should evaluate how many teachers and students are out at any given time and make a decision based on those numbers.
Universal indoor masking is recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status.
