Headline Surfer photo illustration / COVID mask-wearing is now voluntary for adults at all Orange County Public Schools as of today, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.
By SERA KING / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Citing steady declines in the past month in COVID-related cases and deaths in the Sunshine State, including here in Central Florida, Orange County Public Schools is loosening its mask-wearing mandates for adults at its Orlando-area campuses starting today.
Mask-wearing for all adults -- district employees and visitors alike -- will be voluntary on all its OCPS campuses as of this Monday morning.
Orange County Public Schools, the ninth-largest in the nation with nearly 209,000 students and more than 25,000 employees, indicated on its online dashboard portal on Friday10 positive test results for COVID - 5 students and 5 staffers.
Seminole County EMS Director Dr. Todd Husty agrees with the school district's decision to loosen mask-wearing, at least for adults. on the district's campuses.
“I’ve been pretty much a proponent of masks up until we get to a point where we’re not transmitting this disease around, then sure," Husty said, asking rhetorically, "Why wear a mask if we’re not transmitting disease?”
Indeed, Florida continues to show signs of improvement: The latest report from the state shows COVID cases and deaths have dropped more than 30% week-to-week.
But the union that represents Orange County's school teachers, has questioned the wisdom of loosening up mask mandates. “It’s premature," Wendy Doromal, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association told WKMG Ch. 6. "I think they should have waited to follow the CDC guidelines."
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ut the union that represents Orange County's school teachers, has questioned the wisdom of loosening up mask mandates. “It’s premature," Wendy Doromal, president of the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association told WKMG Ch. 6. "I think they should have waited to follow the CDC guidelines."
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidelines. The new guidelines recommend counties with low levels of COVID could cease wearing masks indoors.
In medium or high-risk counties, however, the CDC recommends indoor mask-wearing in schools, grocery stores, etc., especially for those who suffer from life-threatening illnesses such as congestive heart failure and COPD.
According to the CDC, most of Central Florida is in the medium and high categories. Orange County is considered high risk. Neighboring I-4 counties Seminole (greater Sanford) and Volusia (greater Daytona Breach) are considered to be at medium risk for COVID.
About the Byline Writer: Sera King is associate publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet in Lake Mary, FL serving greater Orlando, Sanford, and Daytona Beach via HeadlineSurfer.com since 2008. She's also a byline writer (business, community & sports features), a videographer, and a cartoonist for the media outlet. King received her bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Metro Orlando Campus of Ana G. Mendez University in 2008. Headline Surfer is published by Henry Frederick, Central Florida's award-winning journalist.