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HARRISBURG, Sept. 1 \u2013\u00a0<\/strong>State Rep. Mike Schlossberg issued the following statement regarding the announcement by the Wolf administration of statewide school mask requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernor Tom Wolf announced mandatory masking requirements in Pennsylvania\u2019s schools and early childhood learning centers. I completely support this announcement and applaud the governor\u2019s leadership. Every school leader has the same goal this year: 180 days of in-person learning. Masks help achieve that goal.<\/p>\n \u201cMasking requirements are already in effect in the school settings I am fortunate to represent. The Allentown School District, Parkland School District, Allentown Diocese and Jewish Day School announced such requirements as part of their back-to-school plans. For students in these districts, there is no change. Given the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases over the latter half of summer, and the fact that many students are not able to be vaccinated, such a requirement makes perfectly logical sense,\u201d said Schlossberg, D-Lehigh.<\/p>\n \u201cFor my colleagues who oppose this measure: you lobbied for a stronger role in how Pennsylvania makes public health decisions during a pandemic. The governor explicitly asked us to end summer recess early and have a conversation on this topic. The majority leadership declined to even bring us back from summer recess. The governor was forced to act.<\/p>\n \u201cUntil we see vaccines available for children under age 12, greater vaccination rates for people over the age of 12 and a reduction in transmission of COVID-19 in our community, masking offers the greatest protection against spread we have available.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the past month, school boards have been an unnecessary venue for conflict about masking policies during this pandemic. Loud and obnoxious antics from a distinct minority of people is not democracy. This is the behavior of school yard bullies. When recent public opinion polling shows that approximately 60% support these protections for our kids, and less than 30% oppose them, this does not even warrant the coverage it has received.<\/p>\n \u201cLast week, I offered deeper thoughts about the need for mask mandates in an Op-Ed published by The Morning Call. To get a deeper understanding of my thoughts, I encourage anybody to read it and share it wide.\u201d<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" HARRISBURG, Sept. 1 \u2013\u00a0State Rep. Mike Schlossberg issued the following statement regarding the announcement by the Wolf administration of statewide school mask requirements. \u201cGovernor Tom Wolf announced mandatory masking … Continue reading Schlossberg supports statewide school mask requirement<\/span>
\nTom Andrews
\nHouse Democratic Communications Office<\/p>\n
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