The Sconi

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) have changed their policies on masking due to the delta variant. 

DHS said it will follow CDC guidelines suggesting masks for everyone in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status, contradicting earlier information from the CDC regarding the delta variant and vaccinations. 

School districts will decide whether to follow these guidelines on an individual basis.

"We’ll continue to monitor local health data and further advice from the health department, but right now our current policy will remain in force," Bob Peterson, president of the Milwaukee School Board, said. 

The school district will not be keeping track of which students have been vaccinated. 

"We have 21,000 students. With a district our size, it'd be impossible to keep track of all that," Superintendent Steve Murley said. 

The Department of Health Services pointed to rising cases including those caused by the delta variant as the reason for reinstating the guidelines, though, in Wisconsin, hospitalizations and deaths remain low. The data shows just three COVID-19-related deaths for Wisconsinites under the age of 19 and only about 1,000 hospitalizations for those in that age range. Real Clear Politics reports the death rate for children between the ages of five and 14 due to COVID-19 is similar to their chances of being struck by lightning.

Between Jan. 1, 2020 and July 24, the CDC said 117 COVID-19 deaths were reported for children ages five to 14. The CDC website reports that to date, there have been 340 COVID-19-related deaths for kids 0-17 years old. The CDC director has said previously that vaccinated people are safe from the delta variant.

Sixty-three percent of respondents to a recent Trafalgar poll said that in light of the spread of new variants, government should take no action because of the widespread availability of vaccines and treatments for the disease. Over 24% said the government should take some type of action, with 17.7% in favor of reinstating mask mandates and social distancing and just 7% in favor of reinstating lockdowns. Among Democrats, a majority still favored no government action at 50.1%, with 25.8% in favor of reinstating mask mandates and social distancing, and 11.3% in favor of reinstating lockdowns. Among Republicans, the numbers were 83.4%, 7.2%, and 2.4%, respectively. Most Americans oppose continued mask mandates, despite the delta variant.

The CDC announced new guidance on July 27 that it recommends indoor mask use in areas of the country with high transmission rates.