Oakland County is the latest county in Michigan to order mask wearing in schools.
The county health division issued an emergency order Tuesday requiring masks in daycares and elementary, middle, high, and vocational schools regardless of vaccination status to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Our top priority is keeping students in school for in-person learning. Masking is one of the best defenses against increased transmission of COVID and higher hospitalization rates among kids,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter.
Oakland County is currently listed with a ‘substantial’ risk for COVID-19 transmission under CDC guidelines. According to Oakland County, out of 2,740 new cases of COVID-19 in the county between Aug. 4-17, more than one in six were school age children.
Mask mandates in schools in other counties has met with some opposition.
Last week, dozens of people attended a rally in Flint to voice opposition to a school mask mandate. But Genesee County officials have indicated they will leave the mandate in place.
