Trump administration advises masks for school, no mandate

Transcript

The Trump administration remains adamant about reopening US classrooms.

The administration released eight general recommendations for schools similar to earlier hygiene tips.

The decision comes on the heels of some students and staff entering isolation after testing positive for the virus.

President Trump announced the federal government is providing up to 125 million masks to schools nationwide.

The White House is encouraging students and staff to use masks but there is no mandate.

The White House’s new coronavirus advisor Doctor Scott Atlas says the goal is to open school safely and give parents a choice.

But some health experts are skeptical about Atlas.

Former CDC Director Doctor Thomas Frieden says Atlas is a neuroradiologist who has no public health experience.

The push to get students back to class comes as the US is averaging nearly 53,000 new cases per day according to Johns Hopkins University.

As the summer surge in coronavirus cases begins to level off, the death rate remains alarmingly high.

More than 1,000 people in the US died on average for the past 16 straight days.

Posted – 8.13.20