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Holcomb Won't Reimpose Statewide School Mask Mandates Amid COVID-19 Surge

Jeanie Lindsay / IPB News

Gov. Eric Holcomb won’t reimpose any mask mandates in Hoosier schools, only urging students, teachers and staff to mask up amid a surge of COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance Tuesday that recommends anyone in a school setting – even vaccinated people – wear a mask as the delta variant drives up cases around the country.

Indiana previously required masks in schools before rescinding that order after June.

READ MORE: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe For Kids? Here's What You Need To Know

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Holcomb said he recommends “taking every safe step possible” to keep children in school.

“We’ve seen what a whacking our kiddos have taken with the pandemic over this last year in terms of learning loss, etc.," Holcomb said. "And so, we don’t want to watch the same movie again.”

Masks will still be required on school buses, under federal rules. Individual school districts can decide whether to require face coverings in school buildings.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.