On Monday, September 13, 2021, the Warren County School Board approved a motion that allows parents (and students who are at least 18) to sign waivers indicating a student has a medical or mental disability that means they should not wear masks in school. This, unlike the state mandate, does not require that an appropriate medical professional provide a written explanation of the relevant condition, thereby opening the door for rampant disregard for this important safety regulation.

The citizens of Warren County signing this petition are stating their concern for the general welfare of the children attending school, but also the concern over the growing threat of COVID-19 in Warren County which is increasing rapidly. We, the undersigned, agree with the accepted science and thorough studies that have shown that mask mandates help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. This is especially important for the unvaccinated, in this case, children.

Aside from the unknown long-term effects COVID-19 can have on infected children, we do know that the unvaccinated, and particularly our children, will be carriers that will allow this disease to create a greater foothold in our community and put even more people at risk. This is another concern for the citizenry of Warren County.

The mandate, by all standards, is sensible and should be adopted and supported by the Warren County School District Board of Directors.

MIT - Masks mandates have major impact, study finds

KXAN - Do face masks work? Here are 49 scientific studies that explain why they do

NBC News - Largest study of masks yet details their importance in fighting Covid-19