UPDATED: McKee Administration Encourages Masks for Schools in Fall, But No Mandate

UPDATED: McKee Administration Encourages Masks for Schools in Fall, But No Mandate

Governor Dan McKee, Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and Director of the Department of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH issued new guidance on Wednesday, but not a mandate to schools, urging students and staff to wear masks in the return to classrooms in the fall.

“We strongly recommend that school districts set a policy that requires masking in schools this fall regardless of vaccination status in direct correlation with CDC guidance. Over the course of the summer, we will continue to monitor the CDC’s guidance and update Rhode Island’s guidance as necessary,” said the McKee Administration in their release.

This is the first guidance from McKee relating to the spike in cases driven by the Delta variant.

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Cases have begun to spike in Rhode Island although there is very little testing -- in the last three days reported less than 14,000 tests have been conducted. The target testing number per day has been 20,000.

Testing under McKee has nearly collapsed.

There have been 314 new cases reported and hospitalizations -- which are still relatively low are beginning to increase. Wednesday, RI reported 29 coronavirus hospitalizations.

McKee has repeatedly refused to call for state employees to be mandated for testing or vaccinations. Multiple other states including New York and California have announced such requirements.

President Biden will announce on Thursday that all civilian federal employees must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or to regularly test, socially distance, and mask up on most travel, as first reported by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. 

“We also know that vaccinations are the most powerful tool we have as we work towards a full return to in-person learning in the fall. With the start of the school year several weeks away, now is the time for eligible staff and students to get vaccinated,” said the statement from McKee. “We will continue to work with local school leaders and provide the necessary support to ensure a successful and seamless full return to the classroom.”