Florida’s newly appointed surgeon general signed new protocols on Wednesday allowing parents to decide whether or not to quarantine their children or send them to school after being exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Joseph Ladapo, who was sworn in on Tuesday, got rid of a previous rule that required students to quarantine at home for at least four days if they were exposed to someone with COVID-19, The Associated Press reported.
Under his new rules, students may continue attending school in-person “without restrictions or disparate treatment,” as long as they are asymptomatic.
“Quarantining healthy students is incredibly damaging for their educational advancement,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Wednesday. “It’s also disruptive for families. We are going to be following a symptoms-based approach.”
Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, spoke out against the state’s new rules, the AP reported.
“Limiting districts’ options and blocking them from following CDC guidelines is not in the best interest of the health of our students, employees or families,” Spar said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends unvaccinated people quarantine for 14 days if they have been within six feet of someone who has tested positive for COV… (Read more)
