Local school districts only ‘encouraging’ mask wearing

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – For some parents, the latest decision, masking in schools to be encouraged, not required, is truly disappointing.

“I feel like it’s a really childish political move because we have innocent children that can’t defend themselves,” a parent, McCarthy said.

Following several bills that Florida Ron DeSantis signed into law, It’s a decision both Miami-Dade and Broward schools made. One of them states that parents should decide if their child wears a mask in the classroom.

“Now the school districts really have no choice but to follow this law,” said attorney Michael Dietz.

10 days ago, both school districts announced they were relaxing their school masking rules because COVID-19 numbers were trending in the right direction.

“This is a significant blow to local control because this decision is quite frankly on the books at the state level,” Steve Gallon, Miami-Dade School board vice chair, said. Both superintendents have been adamant that their masking protocols be guided by science.

According to the new law, children with no symptoms won’t be required to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with covid-19. “I think it’s a political gamble and we are gambling on lives of people and I think that’s wrong,” Dietz said.

According to an infectious disease expert with Florida International University, Dr. Aileen Marty, the pandemic is not over and he believes that this is putting politics over health. “The fact that there are politicians that are dividing us over these types of things is just sad,” Marty said.

The new law expires in June of 2023.