Oregon Health Authority Adopts ‘Permanent’ Rules for Masking in Schools

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) adopted “permanent” rules for masking in schools, forcing children to mask up “unless the State Public Health Director or State Public Health Officer issues an order stating that the some or all requirements in this rule are no longer necessary to control COVID-19.”

Oregon officials have long floated making mask rules a more “permanent” fixture in the state, and they made it a reality — at least for school settings.

“Children are required to attend school, which is a congregate setting where COVID-19 can spread easily if precautions are not taken,” the OHA’s rule reads, identifying masks and vaccinations as “two of the most important tools the state has to control COVID-19”:

To protect students who for reasons of age or medical conditions are not eligible to be vaccinated, and those with underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to complications from COVID-19, as well as to minimize the disruption of student education in schools because of exposure to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19, requiring universal use of masks or face coverings in schools is necessary.

“The requirements in this rule remain in effect unless the State Public Health Director or State Public Health Officer issues an order stating that the some or all requirements in this rule are no longer necessary to control COVID-19,” the rule continues, essentially making masking in schools permanent and wholly dependent on the whims of officials.- READ MORE