Los Angeles requires youth basketball participants to wear masks, critic calls policy 'dangerous'

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Youth basketball league participants in Los Angeles are still being required to wear masks while they are on the court more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angeles Uprising, an organization that pushes back against "restrictions and mandates," tweeted a picture of a youth basketball game from Saturday which shows participants wearing masks while on the court. The youth basketball game took place at the Mar Vista Recreation Center. A flyer for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Summer Basketball League states that a "face mask is required at all times." EMAILS FROM CALIFORNIA DOCTOR ALLEGEDLY POISONED BY WIFE WITH DRANO REVEAL 'INABILITY TO COMMUNICATE'

Kids in a youth basketball league in Los Angeles are still being required to wear masks due to COVID-19. (LA Uprising)

In addition, participants over the age of 12 must provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before entering any indoor park facility. The Los Angeles Uprising founder, who chose to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital that the policy is absurd. "Obviously, at this point, there's no excuses anymore. You know, everyone has access to vaccines. Everyone can do it. Everyone's caught in this. At this point, it's just completely out of alignment," the LA Uprising founder said. GOV. NEWSOM BLASTS OAKLAND LEADERS FOR NOT HANDLING RAMPANT HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS

The debate on COVID-era masks has polarized the nation.  (iStock)

"And no one in this city has ever fought for kids or said, 'Hey, let's make sure we get this in alignment for them.' Let's make sure that teens and kids this end of summer and fall don't have to deal with restrictions if they don't need to. But no one ever speaks up for the kids, certainly out of public health and certainly not in the city. They've never done that. They've never looked out for the kids. Never," he added. Jonathan Zachreson, founder of Reopen California Schools, told Fox News Digital that he thinks it's dangerous to have kids wearing masks while doing physical activity.

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A young child is seen wearing a mask while getting a vaccine. (iStock)

"I would say it's dangerous to have kids in physical activity, excessive exertion like basketball, to be in masks. And frankly, you know, we talk about mask choice and allowing people to make decisions for them and their families," he said.

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/los-angeles-requires-youth-basketball-participants-to-wear-masks-critic-calls-policy-dangerous/?feed_id=13716&_unique_id=6301d53cb2feb

Philadelphia school district mandates masks for first 10 days of school year, pre-k must mask up all year

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The School District of Philadelphia is mandating that students and staff wear masks for the first 10 days of the school year, and is requiring that pre-kindergarten attendees mask-up all year.

Officials from the school district and city made the announcement in a letter to parents on Friday, stating that after the first 10 days of the school year, from Aug. 29 through Sept. 9, most schools will go mask-optional.

The letter states that when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 community transmission level is high, students and staff will be required to wear masks in schools. When the level is medium, masking is "strongly recommended."

Students and staff at the district's Pre-K Head Start program, the district's income-driven pre-kindergarten program for ages 3-5, will be required to wear a mask for the entire 2022-2023 school year, according to the announcement.

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Students play outside at recess as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters/Hannah Beier)

"For the first 10 days of the new school year – from August 29 through September 9 – all students and staff will be required to wear masks while in school, regardless of the COVID-19 Community Level," the announcement reads. "Students and staff at PreK Head Start programs are still required to wear masks at all times, regardless of the Community Level."

There are also instances when an isolated mask requirement might be implemented, such as a school-wide or classroom COVID-19 outbreaks, or when returning from extended breaks and holidays. 

The district is also implementing a "mask to stay" program, stating that students and staff who have been exposed to COVID-19 can stay in school but must wear a mask for 10 days.

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Students return to school as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters/Hannah Beier)

If a student tests positive for COVID-19, they are required to isolate at home for at least five days, but can return to school afterward if they're symptom-free "but must wear a high-quality (N95 or KN95) mask for an additional 5 days and must eat in a designated area," the announcement reads.

Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News medical analyst and professor of medicine at New York University Langone Medical Center, said there's "no public health value" in making students and staff mask-up for the first 10 days of the school year.

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A student reflects her lunch bag on a wall in a hallway as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are lifted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Reuters/Hannah Beier)

"The whole thing is, mandates aren't working at all. So, you know, they just obscure the question about whether there's any public health value in actually doing any of this. I mean, I think if you're at a high risk, there is. So if I was in an area with a lot of spread, and I was at high risk, I might choose to wear a mask indoors. But there's no evidence that these mandates doing anything.

Siegel added that "mandates for ten days are like a sign of hypocrisy."

Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/philadelphia-school-district-mandates-masks-for-first-10-days-of-school-year-pre-k-must-mask-up-all-year/?feed_id=10188&_unique_id=62f7048ca06ba