As Hawaii students are scheduled to return to classrooms next month, the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) is addressing the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance regarding masks and social distancing.
The Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) recently announced that it will not be updating its mask-wearing policy and will still require that K-12 students and staff wear masks in classrooms, Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
This announcement follows a release from the CDC that recommends lifting mask-wearing requirements for students and teachers who are fully vaccinated.
“As we have seen with previous national guidance, not all of it is applied to Hawaii’s COVID-19 safe reopening plans due to the uniqueness of our island state’s situation,” DOE spokeswoman Lindsay Chambers said in an email, Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
Hawaii schools will resume classes on Tuesday, Aug. 3. The CDC recommends wearing masks indoors for students who have not been fully vaccinated and maintaining at least 3 feet of distance between students.
HSTA asserts that due to the uncertainty of determining who is vaccinated and who isn't, maintaining uniform requirements for all students and staff would be the most effective way to meet CDC safety guidelines.
"Given these unanswered questions, it’s in the best interest of everyone to wear masks when they are indoors until we reach herd immunity," HSTA wrote on its website. "The HSTA believes it’s important for all school personnel to have sufficient access to personal protective equipment, proper ventilation and cleaning supplies so that classrooms and school facilities are as safe as possible."
The CDC also recommends mitigation practices, including screening, testing, proper ventilation, handwashing, staying home when sick, and cleaning and disinfection to keep schools safe. Those who become infected should seek quarantine and isolation, and contact-tracing measures should be taken.
"COVID-19 prevention strategies remain critical to protect people, including students, teachers and staff who are not fully vaccinated, especially in areas of moderate-to-high community transmission levels," according to the CDC.
The HSTA represents 13,700 public school teachers statewide. The organization represents and supports teachers in collective bargaining, as well as legislative and professional development issues.