LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL) - The Lee County school board is re-thinking its stance on masks after nearly 200 students, teachers, and staff tested positive for COVID-19 during the first seven days of school. Lee County was one of the only school districts that allowed parents to decide if they wanted to send their kids to school in masks or not. However, the superintendent is mandating masks starting Monday after a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
The first five days of school, August 9-13, Lee County recorded 105 positive cases of COVID-19. Monday and Tuesday, August 17 and 17th, they had 88 positive cases, for a total of 193 cases in schools where masks were optional.
In Auburn City Schools, where masks are required, schools reported 12 confirmed cases during the first four school days, August 10-13th. Auburn City Schools started their school year on Tuesday, August 10th. Lee County Schools began instruction on Monday, August 9th.
Opelika is also mandating masks in schools. We can't share Opelika's cases with you because they are not releasing their numbers to the public; they are reporting to the Alabama Department of Public Health. ADPH will resume its COVID-19 School Dashboard in September.
"The primary goal of our school system is to educate children in the safest environment we can provide. We must be open to provide the best possible quality education. To remain open for in-person learning, at this time we must add, specific mitigation strategy. Effective Monday, August 23, 2021, facial covering/masks will be required for all individuals while indoors at any Lee county schools facility," said Lee County School Superintendent Dr. James McCoy.
Meanwhile, Alabama Public Health reports a significant increase in pediatric cases compared to last year. Alabama has at least 50 children hospitalized statewide, with at least nine children on ventilators in a single day.
"I am very concerned children of Alabama are experiencing more illness and hospitalizations as a result of COVID-19. COVID-19 can be a very serious illness in children, with at least 6 percent of children experiencing long-term consequences. Further, at least 113 children in our state have suffered from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Childhood (MIS-C), a severe illness that occurs after COVID disease and affects several organs, including the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys, among other body systems," said ADPH pediatrician, Dr. Karen Landers said quote:
Alabama Health Officials, east Alabama hospital officials, and pediatricians continue urging those 12 and up to get vaccinated and wear masks.
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