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Group of Local Doctors Push for Mask Mandate in Duval County

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Hospitals are seeing the highest number of children with COVID-19 than ever before.

It’s why some local doctors are calling on Duval County Public Schools to mandate masks for the school year that starts in a week.

Shannon Russell-Hinds teaches at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville and is concerned about the growing number of COVID-19 cases.

Russell-Hinds said, “There was already concern last year of course — but it’s adding now another…now you have to deal with this.”

Hinds is one of the hundreds of DCPS employees who received an email from Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene last week that staff are required to wear masks for the next 30 days. It’s a mandate Dr. Greene said she would’ve extended to students if it weren’t for Governor DeSantis’ executive order - letting parents decide if their child wears a mask at school.

For now – masks for students are optional. Russell-Hinds said Duval Homeroom is no longer an option -- schools will be even busier than last year. “We’re going to hope that our parents and our students do the right thing,” she said.

A group of local doctors discussed the COVID-19 danger in the classroom - during a virtual town hall. Dr. Jeff Goldhagen, the former director of the Duval County Health Department -- wants the district to take a stand against the executive order. Dr. Jeff Goldhagen said, “We are in a far worst situation today than we were in any part previously during the pandemic. The irony is we’re not taking the same precautions today that we were taking.” He said if masks aren’t mandated, he believes unmasked students should be kept in separate classrooms.

Dr. Greene will present all covid precautions at tomorrow’s school board meeting.

Dr. Jeff Goldhagen said, “The school board and superintendent are in a very difficult situation — there’s a right thing to do which is first and foremost protect our children.”

A group of parents also plans to rally outside DCPS before tomorrow’s school board meeting -- asking that the school board mandates masks.