Community Health Network recommends universal mask usage for area schools

For release on September 02, 2021

Letters sent to superintendents of partner school districts

Indianapolis—Community Health Network is recommending all students older than age 2 along with all teachers, staff and visitors wear face masks at school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In a letter to superintendents of more than 150 area schools served by the Indianapolis-based health system, Community outlined its reasons for the recommendation, which follow those from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Among the reasons for the recommendation:

A sizable portion of the student population is not eligible for vaccination and must be protected from the transmission of COVID-19.
There is not an adequate system for monitoring vaccine status among students, teachers, staff, and visitors.
Vaccination uptake within the surrounding school community is low in many areas.
There are continued concerns about variants that are more easily spread among children, adolescents, and adults.
Universal masking protects students and staff from other respiratory illnesses that would take time away from school.

‘Community has a longstanding partnership with area schools which we view as a key part of our overall mission of enhancing health and well-being,’ said Dr. Suzanne Grannan, Community Health Network Executive Medical Director of Pediatrics and School Based Care. ‘Educators are doing exceptional work trying to balance the benefits of in-person instructional experiences with the imperative for health and safety in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Finding the proper balance requires some compromise between what is ideal in more normal times, and what is pragmatic in today’s situation,’ said Grannan.

Community recognizes that every school district is unique and must consider many variables as it makes decisions about the health, safety and educational success of students. Community’s recommendations are based on research, data and available information combined with the current circulation of the highly contagious Delta variant.