By Mary Jo Pitzl | Arizona Republic
Although Gov. Doug Ducey rescinded his executive order that made mask usage mandatory for students and staff, many Phoenix-area schools are sticking with their mask requirements.
At least for now.
The governor’s abrupt action Monday set off a flurry of emailed letters and robo phone calls to parents advising them of their school’s mask policy. Most made it clear masks would be required on campus.
The governor’s action also drew sharp criticism from medical professionals who said the governor wrongly characterized his actions as in line with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC has eased social distancing guidelines for schools (from six feet to three), but it has not rolled back mask recommendations.
Dr. Cadey Harrel, CEO of Agave Community Health & Wellness in Tucson, called Ducey’s move “dangerously ignorant.”
“Lifting simple measures that work to curb the spread of the virus, like mask-wearing, is one of the worst things Gov. Ducey can do right now,” Harrel wrote in a news release. She noted that with COVID-19 variants spreading in the community, and children under age 16 not yet able to be vaccinated, easing mask requirements puts students and faculty at risk.
