Baltimore County Schools Will Require ‘Universal Masking,’ Maryland Ranks Third Nationally In Vaccinations Among Ages 12-17

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ) — Baltimore County schools volition necessitate each students, visitors, teachers and different unit to deterioration masks wrong each buildings for the upcoming schoolhouse year.

The teachers’ national welcomed the move. “This is what the subject shows to support everybody harmless truthful we are acceptable to look the schoolhouse twelvemonth with masks,” Cindy Sexton, the president of TABCO told WJZ Investigator Mike  Hellgren.

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But determination are worries astir however it volition beryllium enforced.

“We person heard the concerns astir the students who won’t deterioration their masks. There are besides concerns that determination are going to beryllium adults who won’t deterioration their masks arsenic good truthful compliance is going to beryllium the key,” Sexton said.

This is the missive from Baltimore County schools’ superintendent to parents astir cosmopolitan disguise requirements; besides students volition not person to quarantine if they are masked and stayed astatine slightest 3 feet from a classmate who tests #COVID19 affirmative https://t.co/BZgnafBRvO @wjz pic.twitter.com/6himRs75BJ

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 29, 2021

Samantha Smith said her 2 children volition person nary occupation masking up. “There are already a batch of parents online making threats astir pulling kids retired of school,” Smith said of the contention the determination has caused among immoderate parents.

She noted vaccination volition beryllium cardinal to getting infections nether power and praised schoolhouse officials for making the masking determination early. “I deliberation it does person to happen,” she said of masks successful schools. “As parents, our kids are going to respond the mode we react.”

Baltimore County parent Kia Griffin believes masks are safer for her kids.

“I would consciousness much comfy if the full people had masks,” she told Hellgren.

Baltimore County’s superintendent wrote a missive to parents explaining the masking decision. He besides advised that if a pupil tests positive, classmates volition not person to quarantine unless they person not worn masks and person been little than 3 feet from the infected person.

NEWS: BCPS to necessitate cosmopolitan masking for students, staff, and visitors successful schools for the Fall of the 2021-22 schoolhouse year: Local leaders enactment cosmopolitan masking successful BCPS schools and connected schoolhouse buseshttps://t.co/6DzwZcXM37

— Baltimore County Public Schools (@BaltCoPS) July 29, 2021

Schools successful Baltimore City are besides requiring masks. Parent Brittany Robinson does not hold with the policy.

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“They privation to instrumentality it disconnected and breathe. They can’t respire successful the masks,” Robinson said.

“We’re not arsenic acrophobic astir the kids backmost successful school. Obviously, the CDC had guidance. They weren’t requirements,” Governor Larry Hogan told WJZ Thursday. “But our local, duly elected schoolhouse boards person the quality to marque those decisions for themselves—as they person been each along. We’re conscionable hoping everybody gets vaccinated, and we don’t person to interest astir masks immoderate more.”

Maryland reports 505 caller #COVID19 infections today. The positivity complaint rises supra 2.5% @wjz ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LaDTMlfuIu

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) July 29, 2021

It comes arsenic the Delta variant is spreading, and the authorities reported 505 caller infections Thursday.

“Going from astir nary to 500 is concerning,” the politician said.

Maryland besides reported administering much than 12,000 vaccine doses successful the past 24 hours.

The Hogan Administration said Maryland ranks 3rd nationally successful the vaccination of 12 to 17 twelvemonth olds with 57% getting the changeable successful the state. Currently, children younger than 12 cannot person the vaccine.

Maryland has already vaccinated 57% of 12- to 17-year-olds against #COVID19—the third-highest complaint successful the nation.

Through our #VaxU program, each 12- to 17-year-olds who get vaccinated are eligible to triumph a $50,000 scholarship.https://t.co/MjHeoZnfuj pic.twitter.com/UclLc9CZSD

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 29, 2021

Prince George’s, Montgomery and Frederick County nationalist schools are besides mandating masks for the coming schoolhouse year.

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