Volusia county health officials to recommend schools require masks for unvaccinated students

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — In Volusia County the department of health says it’s seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, especially among school aged children.

That’s why department of health officials plan to recommend that the district adopt a new policy at Tuesday’s board meeting that would require anyone who is unvaccinated to wear a mask.

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Under current district policy masks are optional for next school year.

Right now only about 39% of those between 12 and 19 are vaccinated in Volusia County.

Numbers obtained from the department of health show 995 cases of COVID 19 were reported among adolescents 19 and younger for the month of July.

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Of those cases 609 were children 14 and younger compared to the 318 reported cases between March and July of 2020.

Still some parents said they prefer that masks remain optional citing personal choice.

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Any changes to the current mask policy would have to be made by the superintendent.

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