In the opening month of the school year, over 18,000 students in Mississippi tested positive for COVID-19, including a heartbreaking case involving an eighth-grader who tragically lost their life to the virus. The relentless surge of the delta variant has been wreaking havoc in communities nationwide, and the return to in-person schooling has exacerbated the situation, particularly in Mississippi. The state’s low vaccination rates and hesitancy towards mask mandates have created an environment where the virus has thrived.
Educators are now pleading for assistance as they face the fallout of these alarming numbers. According to state reports, at least 18,825 students were confirmed positive for COVID-19 within the first month of classes, while tens of thousands of others had to quarantine due to exposure. In fact, more than 15,000 students were in quarantine just last week. Despite the severe situation, Mississippi has not implemented safety measures such as mask mandates to help keep students in the classroom.
During a recent press conference, Governor Tate Reeves downplayed the severity of COVID-19 in children, inaccurately suggesting that only a couple of deaths had been reported. However, public health officials quickly corrected him, noting that seven children had died from the virus by that time. Just days after his comments, the state mourned the loss of an eighth-grader due to COVID-19.
Teachers are calling on Reeves to enact a statewide mask mandate, especially given that only 46 percent of Mississippi residents aged 12 and older—those eligible for vaccinations—have received their shots. “There is no discussion around, at what point do we protect children over the economy,” stated a public school teacher from Jackson. “It seems like a question [Reeves] is successfully avoiding, and every level of it is concerning to me.”
Another educator, a middle school Spanish teacher, expressed frustration, saying that the decision not to prioritize student safety appears to be politically motivated. Meanwhile, a former Teacher of the Year, who works at a school with a mask mandate, fears that local authorities might rescind this protective measure. She urged Reeves to reconsider the scientific data and acknowledge the urgent need to safeguard Mississippi students.
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Summary:
Mississippi teachers are urgently requesting help as over 18,000 students tested positive for COVID-19 within a month of school reopening. The lack of vaccination and mask mandates has allowed the virus to spread, prompting educators to call for state-level safety measures to protect students and staff. The state’s leadership has faced criticism for their handling of the situation, especially following the recent tragic death of a student.
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