Wayne County has experienced some of the worst effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with major surges in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in spring and fall 2020, and spring 2021.

However, cases in the county stayed relatively low among children and teens during these surges. During the 2020-2021 school year, state and county public health orders required masks, contact tracing, quarantining and other preventive measures in schools that chose to offer in-person learning.

Now that vaccination is available to everyone over age 12, the county Public Health Division has worked hard to bring vaccination opportunities to people throughout the county.

But as the 2021-2022 school year approaches, Wayne County has reached the High (red) transmission level on CDC's map. No public health orders are in effect for schools, and a large number of school districts have chosen to make masks optional for students and staff.

At the same time, school districts in the southern U.S. that have already begun classes without required masks have experienced surges in cases among students, and have had to require masks to try to preserve the ability to keep schools open for in-person learning.

We cannot afford to allow Wayne County children and families to endure the same.  We call upon county health officials to use their power to issue a Public Health Order that would compel public school districts in the county to require masks inside school facilities and during outdoor athletics and extracurricular activities that involve close contact. 

Such an order would be in line with the guidance for K-12 schools from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It would protect children under 12 who can't be vaccinated, students and staff who may be vaccinated but less-protected by the vaccine due to health conditions, as well as unvaccinated individuals in schools and the community.