PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Cases of COVID-19 among children have steadily increased since the beginning of July, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Just last week, more than 121,000 child COVID-19 cases were reported.
Health officials fear case counts will only accelerate once schools reopen. As such, the Bucks County Health Department is backpedaling its guidance.
Just a few days ago, the county said masks in schools would be optional. Now, officials are recommending — not mandating — all students wear masks.
The county said area hospitals pushed for masks, citing the recent uptick in cases. While cases have risen, hospitalizations and deaths have not. However, health officials are trying to prevent those numbers from increasing, as well as avoid overwhelming hospitals.
In a statement, Health Director Dr. David Damsker added, in part:
“Even under normal circumstances, hospitals in Bucks County have limited ability to treat severe pediatric cases of any type. As our hospitals must refer all serious cases to pediatric specialty hospitals in the region, many of those same specialty pediatric hospitals are already operating at close to capacity because of non-COVID illnesses and staffing issues. While our COVID-19 cases among school-aged children remain very low, hospitals are growing concerned that any pediatric COVID-19 cases could stress the system. Because of this, hospitals in Bucks County have recommended that schools begin the fall semester with a mask requirement.”
However, masking will ultimately remain up to individual school districts.
In Montgomery County, for example, the Lower Moreland School District will not follow the county’s recommendation that students and teachers wear masks. The school board voted Tuesday night to make masks optional. Only visitors must wear a mask indoors.
Parents of students in the Council Rock School District have already started voicing their outrage about the Bucks County mask recommendation.
NBC10’s Miguel Martinez-Valle contributed to this report.
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