Alabama state health officials are urging school administrators to still require masks despite the recent drop in COVID cases across the state.

The State Department of Public Health stated on Tuesday, that almost 23% of COVID-19 infections in Alabama are among children up to the age of 17, and according to the latest data, as of Monday 30 children were hospitalized for the disease, with three on ventilators.

An ADPH news release stated “Consistent and correct mask use in schools has helped reduce the number of cases of COVID-19, helped schools to remain open to in-person learning in Alabama and helped to prevent the consequences of this serious disease,”

That release cited studies by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention which found masks were critical to preventing the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

Alabama is leaving masking decisions to local districts – though many are requiring them over the objections of parents who say the decision should be left to them.

The Cherokee County school system recently, on Friday, September 24th, lifted their ”Face Cover Requirement” policy for indoor activities; however, common sense is the the key factor as face covers will continue to be HIGHLY ENCOURAGED for the indoor school activities and will continue to be required on school buses until further notice.

The current face cover requirement for indoor activities in Cherokee County Schools will be lifted at the end of the school day Friday, September 24^th. Face covers will continue to be required on school buses until further notice.

• Face covers will continue to be highly encouraged for indoor school activities. Please keep in mind that under current ADPH guidelines for schools, only three feet of distance is required when all students are wearing face covers. This allows us to keep so many more children in school.
• Face covers will again be required on any campus reaching the 10% threshold of COVID-related quarantines or at any time the board of education deems appropriate.
• Social distancing will continue to be a priority and all other COVID mitigation strategies will remain in place for all Cherokee County Schools. These strategies include, but are not limited to, staggered class changes, modified lunch and break schedules, limited campus visitors, limited field trips, and modified assemblies.
• Everyone is encouraged to continue to follow CDC and ADPH guidelines by keeping yourselves socially distanced as much as possible, washing hands often, getting vaccinated, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• Cherokee County Schools will continue to monitor the data, communicate with our local EMA and government officials, and adjust procedures accordingly.
• Cherokee County Schools remain committed to providing in-person learning for our students in a safe environment. Thankfully, our COVID numbers have declined over the past four weeks. As of today, we have an average campus quarantine rate of 1.1%. The average campus positivity rate is less than one percent.

Please remember that students who are COVID positive, or showing symptoms of COVID, should not attend school. Notify your school nurse of any COVID-related absences. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us provide a safe learning environment.

On Wednesday – WEIS Radio spoke with Cherokee County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency Director Shawn Rogers, regarding that new ADPH release – and he stressed that when we see a drop in new cases, that is definitely not the time to drop our guard.  It means what we’ve been doing is working – and following all the appropriate safety procedures as outlined by the ADPH and CDC should be continued

Keeping safety first is now more important than ever.

(Information provided in part by AL.COM/www.al.com)

Protect Unvaccinated Family Members

Some people in your family need to continue to take steps to protect themselves from COVID-19, including

• Anyone not fully vaccinated, including children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated yet
• People with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions

Get Vaccinated

• Authorized COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you from COVID-19.
• You should get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can.
• Once you are fully vaccinated, you may be able to start doing some things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.

Wear a mask

If you are not fully vaccinated and aged 2 or older, you should wear a mask in indoor public places.

• In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings.
  • In areas with high numbers of COVID-19 cases, consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact with others who are not fully vaccinated.
• People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider.
• If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.
• If you are fully vaccinated, see When You’ve Been Fully Vaccinated.

Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States and while indoors at U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Travelers are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas of a conveyance (like on open deck areas of a ferry or the uncovered top deck of a bus).

Stay Six Feet Away From Others

• Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
• Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
  • Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
  • Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from other people.
  • Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces

• Being in crowds like in restaurants, bars, fitness centers, or movie theaters puts you at higher risk for COVID-19.
• Avoid indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors as much as possible.
• If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible.

Wash your hands often

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• It’s especially important to wash:
  • Before eating or preparing food
  • Before touching your face
  • After using the restroom
  • After leaving a public place
  • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • After handling your mask
  • After changing a diaper
  • After caring for someone sick
  • After touching animals or pets
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Cover coughs and sneezes

• If you are wearing a mask: You can cough or sneeze into your mask. Put on a new, clean mask as soon as possible and wash your hands.
• If you are not wearing a mask:
  • Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
  • Throw used tissues in the trash.
• Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect

• Clean high touch surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
• If someone is sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Use a household disinfectant product from EPA’s List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19)external icon according to manufacturer’s labeled directions.
  • If surfaces are dirty, clean them using detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.

• Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
• Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
  • Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
• Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.