Salem to require masks in schools this fall

Salem Public Schools students will be required to wear face masks indoors and on buses when the 2020-21 academic year starts at the end of the month.

LATER THIS MONTH.THE EYEOPENER’S JENNIFER EAGANIS LIVE AT THE STATE HOUSE WHITMORE INFORMATION.JENNIFER: THE SCHOOL COMMITTEEVOTED UNANIMOUSLY LAST NIGHT TOMAKE MASKS MANDATORY AS THE WNESCHOOL YEAR KICKS OFF ON AUGUST31.SALEM ALSO DECIDING THATIN-SCHOOL LEARNING WL ILBEREQUIRED UNLESS A STUDENT HAS AMEDICAL EXCUSE.MASKS WILL NOT BE NECESSARYOUTSIDE AND STUDENTS WILL VEHAOUTDOOR MASK BRES.AKSALEM, LIKE MANY DISTRICTS, ISALSO SPENDING THESE FINAL WEEKOF SUMMER REASSESSING ITS HVACSYSTEMS AND POOL TESTINGPROTOCOLS.BOSTON MAYOR KIM JANEY HASALREADY ANNOUND THCEAT MASKSWILL BE A MUST THIS FALL.THE TEACHERS UNION SUPPORTSTHAT, ANDAY SAY -- AND THEYSAY MOST MEMBERSOU WLD ALSO BACKMANDATORY VACCINATIONS WITHEXEMPTIONS.THE BEST WAY TO KEEP OURSTUDTS SAFE IS TO HAVE AS MANYPEOPLE VACCITENAD AS POSSIBLE.JEIF:NN COVID CASES AMONGCHILDREN HAVE STEADILY INCREASEDIN RECENT WEEKS.NATIONWIDE, THE AMERICAN ACADEMYOF PEDIATRICS REPORTED 94,000NEW CASES LAST WEEK.HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS THE STEATRECORDED JUST OVER 1300 NEWCODVI CASES IN CHILDREN UNDER