JEFFERSON CITY (Mo.) - As COVID-19 numbers skyrocket across Missouri, Gov. Mike Parson announced changes to the K-12 school reopening and operating guidance, and is standing firm in refusing to enact a statewide face mask mandate.
Parson says with so many cities and towns already under mask mandates "there most certainly is (a mandate) in the state of Missouri."
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But he won't enact a formal mandate.
"If you just let one person dictate across the state of Missouri- today it may be an issue you like, but it may not be someday. And that's why I think it's very important in the role of governor that you have to take a balanced approach," Parson says.
On Thursday, Parson was joined by infectious disease expert Dr. Rachel Orscheln of Washington University of St. Louis and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Margie Vandeven to announce the new COVID-19 guidelines for all K-12 schools in the state.
The focus of the new guidelines is on proper face mask wearing.
Under the updated guidance, proper mask wearing may now prevent individuals from being identified as close contacts in K-12 schools that have implemented a mask mandate. This means that if both individuals at school – the person diagnosed with COVID-19 and the person exposed to the positive case – have masks on and are wearing them correctly, the individual exposed does not need to quarantine.
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“Schools that are consistently implementing COVID-19 mitigation strategies remain among the safest places for our students,” Gov. Parson said. “We believe this change will lead to more schools encouraging proper mask usage, helping to further protect students and educators from the spread of the virus.”
LOCAL DISTRICTS REACT
While several local school districts say they will wait for guidance from their county health departments before deciding whether to follow the new guidelines, one St. Charles County superintendent says contacts identified today will not be sent home.
While he too is waiting for health department guidance to make a final decision, Fort Zumwalt Superintendent Bernard DuBray says he will not require newly identified contacts to quarantine. "We will take note of it," he says, "but assuming these guidelines go into place then we would not have to quarantine that individual."
DuBray says as of now, the 14 hundred students and 150 staff already in quarantine will have to get clearance from the county to return. He's asking county officials if that will still be the case under the new guidelines.
Shortly after the change was announced, Francis Howell Superintendent Nathan Hoven tweeted that the district will be working with the St. Charles County Health Department to review the new guidelines. He says until then, the district will follow its current procedures and any students or staff in quarantine should remain there until they hear more from the district.
In St. Louis County, the Mehlville and Parkway districts are among those saying they're waiting for the county health department to weigh in. The department released a statement saying schools there have seen significant transmissions among teachers and students and this is not the time to weaken quarantine policies.
Mehlville Superintendent Chris Gaines issued a statement saying the district does not intend to make immediate changes to its protocol and is awaiting further guidance from the St. Louis County Health Department.
Read the full guidelines, here.
Parson was re-elected as governor in the election earlier this month, defeating state auditor Nicole Galloway.
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