A second Arizona school district, Phoenix Elementary, has approved a mandatory mask rule for students, staff, and visitors to help curb the spread of COVID-19 — despite a recently enacted state law barring school districts from requiring mask-wearing.
Phoenix Elementary’s governing board Monday night approved the requirement that included limited opt-out for medical reasons.
“We know that our children learn best in person and we will implement mitigation strategies that help to minimize the spread of illnesses, reduce the need for quarantining, and avoid classroom and school closures,” a district statement said.
Phoenix Elementary has 14 schools, primarily located in central Phoenix. The district’s more than 5,000 students start classes on Thursday.
Phoenix Union High School District approved a mask requirement last week and that district began its 2021-2022 school year on Monday.
It’s not clear whether the state’s prohibition is now in force.
The prohibition against masking mandates by school districts was included in budget legislation enacted in late June. The legislation doesn’t take effect until Sept. 29, though it included a provision saying the prohibition is retroactive.
A legislator who supports the prohibition has asked government lawyers to say when it takes effect.
In other developments:
— Virus-related hospitalizations in Arizona have more than doubled over the past month, according to data reported Tuesday on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.
There were 1,207 COVID patients occupying hospital beds as of Monday, up from 520 a month earlier on July 2.
The state reported 1,974 additional COVID-19 cases and 30 more deaths, increasing the pandemic totals to 933,361 cases and 18,282 deaths.
— Banner Health, the state’s largest hospital system, announced Monday that it was tightening visitor restrictions due to the increased spread of the virus.
The restrictions include only allowing one or two hospitals visitors per patient per day, depending on location. Also, visitors must be at least age 12 and can’t have or be suspected of having COVID-19.
— Yavapai County announced Monday it will again close its public buildings to the public, starting Thursday, due to rising COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations and the county’s low vaccination rate, The Daily Courier reported.
As during previous closures during the pandemic, county offices and services will continue to operate though public access will be restricted, Board of Supervisors Chairman Craig Brown said.
Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
