PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Montgomery County officials are updating guidance and now recommending universal masking in schools this year.
The guidance is a recommendation, not a requirement — a shift many are making as the Delta COVID-19 variant surges across the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its masking protocols on Tuesday. Many states, like New Jersey, have followed suit, suggesting masks again.
The recommendation would apply to K-12 students, teachers and staff, including those who are fully vaccinated.
The change comes just one day after Montgomery County officials announced their initial plan, which said masks weren’t necessary while the virus remained at certain levels. But Montgomery County Office of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Richard Lorraine said they have followed CDC recommendations from the start, and they will continue to do so.
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“When the CDC changed their guidelines, they recommended universal masking for K-12 schools, and that would be vaccinated or unvaccinated and staff and teachers as well,” he said, which means the county will recommend the same.
Outside of some very specific situations, Lorraine noted that the Office of Public Health is an advisory board, and they will leave the final decisions up to the school districts.
The CDC’s updated guidance says anyone in areas with low or moderate levels of the virus should not be required to wear masks. While that covers Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, the CDC does recommend all students and school staff wear masks.
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Lorraine said as long as Montgomery County remains in the low or moderate category, outside of schools, vaccinated people are not advised to wear masks.
He said the best way to keep the level of the virus low is for everyone to get vaccinated and to encourage others to get vaccinated while being supportive and understanding — not insulting.
Bucks County officials said they will not make a recommendation and will leave it up to each district. Chester County officials have not yet returned a request for comment from KYW Newsradio.
Montgomery County will officially announce details on Thursday.