Pennsylvania court throws out state's school mask mandate

[mountaineer]

Pennsylvania court throws out state's school mask mandate
Paula Reed Ward And Megan Tomasic
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 12:47 p.m.

Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court ruled Wednesday that the state’s acting health secretary did not have authority to issue a mandatory school mask mandate at the beginning of this academic year.

In a 31-page opinion, the court found that because there was no emergency declaration in place governing covid-19 in Pennsylvania at the time the order was issued, Acting Health Secretary Alison Beam was required to follow state rulemaking requirements before implementing such a mandate.

She failed to do so, the court ruled.

“It goes without saying that the Department of Health must carry out these duties within the constraints of the law and does not have carte blanche authority to impose whatever disease control measures the Department of Health sees fit to implement without regard for the procedures for promulgating rules and regulations, expedited or otherwise,” the court wrote.  ...

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

[heelboy22]

Was in PA last week for work (I live in NC) and was a bit surprised at how many were without masks in convenience stores and businesses.  Hopefully that will carry over to the schools.

[mountaineer]

Was in PA last week for work (I live in NC) and was a bit surprised at how many were without masks in convenience stores and businesses.  Hopefully that will carry over to the schools.

I live near the Pa. border and don't wear a mask anywhere when I go there. My sister in Pa., on the other hand, has to wear a mask for some of her jobs. The schools are a mess, no matter what. 

[mountaineer]

REVEALED: US is one of only SEVEN countries in the Western world making kids wear masks in schools

    The U.S. is among seven countries in the Western world recommending masks for children in schools
    States can set their own rules but the CDC suggests masks indoors for all kids age two and older regardless of vaccination status
    However, at least 14 countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Australia, don't require kids to wear face coverings
    Experts say this could be because there is more trust in authority figures and that there is more testing in schools in Europe

By Mary Kekatos U.S. Health Editor For Dailymail.Com
Published: 17:47 EST, 10 November 2021 | Updated: 07:52 EST, 11 November 2021

The U.S. is one of the few countries still recommending masks in schools as most nations let kids attend classes without face coverings.

Although states are allowed to set their own rules, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests universal indoor masking for all students above age two regardless of vaccination status.

In fact, 68.2 percent of the 500 of the largest school districts in America still require masks, according to data analytics firm Burbio.

But there are only six other nations in the Western world that require or strongly advise kids to cover their noses and mouths.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen other countries, including the UK, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Germany and Australia have since dropped their mask mandates or never had them begin with.   ...

Seriously, we're even stupider than shut-down Australia when it comes to masks? I guess that makes Gov. Wolf extremely stupid.

Full story at Daily Mail