Indoor masking remains mandatory for public schools during summer programs, but discussions are underway between the Department of Education and the Department of Health regarding the upcoming fall semester.
“Everything that we do is focused on student safety,” said DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi during a livestream interview Wednesday with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. “Throughout the summer, we’ve maintained our existing COVID-19 health and safety guidance, which includes universal indoor masking at all school facilities.”
Any changes to school masking policies for fall would impact the quarantine guidelines for students who are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
“If indoor masking is implemented, per the Department of Health, our close contact identification, notification and quarantining of campuses are not required,” Hayashi said. “We anticipate meeting with the Department of Health next month for continued meetings and guidance for the upcoming school year.”
The DOH provides recommendations for schools regarding quarantine procedures.
“The Department of Education has to factor in many other considerations and then decide what is best for its students and staff,” said DOH spokesman Brooks Baehr. “At schools without an indoor masking requirement, the current guidance recommends quarantine for students exposed to COVID-19.”
Ultimately, the decision on mandatory masking is left to the DOE.
“The Department of Health doesn’t mandate masks in schools,” Baehr said. “DOH provides guidance to schools recommending masks be used indoors at schools.”
Updated guidance related to the DOE’s indoor masking mandate is expected in the coming weeks.
“In early July, we’ll be providing our schools with the guidance,” Hayashi said. “We will be meeting with (DOH) to take a look at what the guidance is going to be for the upcoming school year.”
Hayashi also spoke about the possibility of COVID-19 vaccination mandates for keiki following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation for the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for children between 6 months old and 5.
“Adding the COVID-19 vaccinations, once it’s fully approved, to the list of required immunizations for students to attend our public schools, is something the state Department of Health has authority over,” he said. “There have been some very preliminary discussions, but I don’t believe there is any formal process that has been started yet.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.