Westchester Imposes Mask Mandate For Public, Private Schools

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — To slow the spread of the coronavirus, the Westchester County health department has mandated that masks be worn in all public and private schools in Westchester.

County officials announced their intention to implement the requirement last week, and County Executive George Latimer on Wednesday thanked Gov. Andrew Cuomo for OKing the request.

"Throughout the pandemic, we have experienced first-hand just how much mask wearing, when coupled with social distancing, can help curtail the spread of COVID-19," Latimer said in a statement. "All public, private, parochial and charter school students, along with their educators and staff, will now be required to wear a mask at all times, with the exception of during designated breaks, when eating, during heavy physical exertion, or when a teacher allows them to be taken off."

Westchester joins Orange County, which mandated masks in schools in September, and Rockland County, which mandated masks in schools, on school buses and in adult learning programs earlier in October.

SEE:

• Orange County Mandates Mask-Wearing In Schools.
• Rockland Amends Mask Order, Adds Adults, Removes Day Care Centers

Latimer said county officials consulted with school superintendents across Westchester, and received solid support.

"The safety of our children is always our highest priority, and the safety of the adults who are with our children is also our priority," Latimer said. "While we may not have reached the peak numbers we are seeing in neighboring counties, our numbers in Westchester are still on the rise, and this mandate is essential to keeping the people of our county safe."

The number of coronavirus cases has been going up in Westchester as elsewhere. As of Monday, there were 1,200 active cases in the county.

"That number has jumped up dramatically," Latimer said in his briefing. "It's been going up pretty regularly for the past four to five weeks."

The fatality rate based on positive tests, is 3.7 percent. "That is much higher than the average flu," he said.

Schools across the county have closed temporarily as coronavirus cases have been reported. For example, Byram Hills High School went to all remote learning Wednesday and will stay closed for the rest of the week. Highlands Middle School in White Plains and Scarsdale High School went to all-remote learning Oct. 23 and resumed in-school instruction Monday.

Find out about coronavirus testing in your community's schools on the New York State COVID-19 Report Card.