TUCSON, AZ — As students return to classrooms across the state this week and next, Arizona school districts are prohibited from requiring masks to be worn in schools. That’s due to a law passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Gov. Ducey earlier this summer, and despite the fact that Arizona is now experiencing high levels of COVID-19 transmission and the much more contagious delta variant now accounts for 75% of cases in the state. Dr. Cadey Harrel, CEO of Agave Community Health & Wellness, a family physician in Tucson, and the Arizona State Lead for the Committee to Protect Health Care, released the following statement regarding the risk of state leaders’ actions:
“I am both angry and heartbroken that our Republican lawmakers stubbornly continue to put political points ahead of the protection of our children, educators, and families. Physicians spoke out against this dangerous law when it passed, since many students are not old enough to be vaccinated yet, and with the delta variant spreading like wildfire, it’s even more critical for schools to be able to protect their students, educators, and staff. As a physician and mother, I want children to resume in-person learning safely, but frankly I’m scared about the suffering and death this year will bring. Arizona currently ranks second nationally for pediatric COVID-19 related deaths, and all because Republican legislators and Gov. Ducey are pandering to supporters instead of protecting the health of our children. I sincerely hope that they’ll do the right thing for our children, schools, and community by permitting schools to take necessary and proven measures, like simple mask wearing, to keep them safe.”
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