BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County Public School’s mask policy went into effect on Tuesday. Students are now required to wear masks after a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Some parents said they are not surprised that mandatory masks are back in Brevard County schools.
“Well, honestly, I really just thought it was eventually going to happen,” said Nilsa Perez.
The school board changed the mask policy because of the rise in COVID-19 cases.
“Our numbers are outrageous, quite frankly,” said Cheryl McDougall, a Brevard County School Board member.
According to the school district’s COVID-19 dashboard, more than 3,500 COVID-19 cases have been reported among students and teachers since Aug. 2.
“10 of our staff members are in ICU,” said Jennifer Jenkins, a Brevard County School Board member. “Four on ventilators. We have a student in the ICU who is also ventilated and two staff members have died this school year alone.”
READ: Study: Moderna vaccine generates more antibodies than Pfizer’s shot
Jenkins called the emergency meeting this week.
“This is a risk to our community and I will absolutely not be on the wrong side of history here,” she said.
Some parents pushed to keep masks optional. “I’m not here to say no to masks,” one parent said. “I’m here to say let us choose.”
READ: 95% of Florida’s ICU beds in use, even as COVID-19 cases start to decline
Perez said she believes mandatory masks are needed for students in school to be in a safe environment.
The new mask policy will be revisited in 30 days and readjusted as needed.
©2021 Cox Media Group
