NEWS

As COVID-19 cases rise, Tuscaloosa schools plan to reopen with no mask, distancing requirements

Jason Morton
The Tuscaloosa News
Keri C. Johnson, the superintendents for the Tuscaloosa County School System, said the system will follow the guidelines put forth by the Alabama Department of Public Health, which recommends – but does not require – such measures as the new school year begins. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

As local coronavirus hospitalizations continue to rise, Tuscaloosa city and county school officials currently are planning to reopen classrooms on Aug. 12 with no requirements on mask usage or social distancing.

Instead, the superintendents for both the Tuscaloosa City Schools and Tuscaloosa County School System said they will be following the guidelines put forth by the Alabama Department of Public Health, which recommends – but does not require – such measures as the new school year begins.

The state’s public health order that, among other coronavirus-prevention measures, required facial coverings in public in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, ended May 31.

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Until another such order is issued by Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, the Tuscaloosa city and county schools will likewise make no requirements of its students, teachers or faculty.

“At this time, TCSS continues to move forward as we did last year, operating under the guidance of any current Alabama COVID-19 public health (mask) order,” said county schools Superintendent Keri C. Johnson in a message to parents that was posted on the TCSS website. “In the event that another health order is issued, we would follow the guidance of that order.”

Tuscaloosa City Schools' Superintendent Mike Daria said the system will follow the guidelines put forth by the Alabama Department of Public Health, which recommends – but does not require – such measures as the new school year begins. [Staff file photo]

City schools Superintendent Mike Daria issued a similar statement and said the recently updated “toolkit” from the Alabama Department of Public Health would guide the system’s decisions.

“As you may know, the Tuscaloosa City Schools has every intention of beginning the 2021-2022 school with masks being optional for students and staff …,” Daria said via the city schools website. “Based on our early review of the toolkit, mask-wearing and vaccinations offer the best chance to keep students in school five days a week.”

The state health department’s “K-12 Back to School Guidance 2021-2022,” as updated on July 30, does say that masks will be required on public transportation – including school buses – as ordered earlier this year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

It also refers to CDC guidelines in recommending, but not requiring, facial coverings and social distancing measures of at least 3 feet to minimize the risk of further spreading COVID-19.

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“The best CDC strategies for students to remain in the classroom, even if exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, are the use of masks, spacing, and vaccinations,” the ADPH school guidance toolkit said. “Implementing universal masking, spacing, and vaccinations (when age-appropriate) recommendations will allow more students to remain in school, more parents and grandparents to remain at work, and most importantly prevent an outbreak in the school that could spread to the community at large.

“Please consider adopting these CDC recommendations as you prepare and plan for students returning to school during this evolving COVID pandemic.”

These recommendations come amid an almost 700% increase of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infections at DCH Health System over the past two weeks.

On July 19, there were 11 patients in DCH hospitals with a COVID-19 diagnosis.

As of Monday, that number had climbed to 86, with 22 of those requiring intensive care treatment.

Positive coronavirus cases not needing hospital treatment also are rising.

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According to CovidActNow.org, Tuscaloosa County has been averaging 59 new COVID-19 cases per day for the past week.

Pediatricians also are reporting an increase of cases among young patients.

Tuscaloosa Pediatrics said via its Facebook page that it is seeing infection rates in line with prior pandemic levels.

“Cases of COVID-19 are rapidly rising here in Tuscaloosa,” Tuscaloosa Pediatrics said. “During the week of July 26-30, Tuscaloosa Pediatrics saw 14 patients with COVID-19, the most seen in our office since last January. …

“The American Academy of Pediatrics, the CDC, and the Alabama Department of Public Health recommend universal masking for everyone in the school setting.  Even if your child's school does not require masks, we highly recommend you have your child wear a mask in all indoor school settings.”

Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com.