Education Secretary Cardona States Country Is At ‘Fork In The Road’ Concerning COVID-19, Reopening Schools

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Aug 9, 2021
School child wearing face mask during corona virus and flu outbreak. Boy and girl going back to school after covid-19 quarantine and lockdown. Group of kids in masks for coronavirus prevention.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has stated that the country is “clearly at a fork in the road” when it comes to COVID-19 mandates and requirements, but has gone on to urge school officials to take steps and implement measures that will help kids to attend in-person classes and “keep them safe.”

“We’re clearly at a fork in the road in this country,” Cardona said during a discussion with CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “You’re either going to help students be in school in-person and be safe, or the decisions you make will hurt students. While I understand the argument around not wanting to wear masks because we’re fatigued, without question student safety and staff safety come first.”

Cardona then stated that he recently talked with officials in Florida, Texas, and Arkansas about reopening schools, but when he was asked whether he made any progress he said, “You know, I think what we’re seeing across the country is we recognize the importance of vaccinations and the president put a charge on all of us. Let’s get our vaccination pop-up clinics set up in our schools where students feel comfortable going to get it. And I think everyone across the country agrees on that. I believe strongly that we need to do everything, including our mitigation strategies, to make sure our students are safe. The data is showing us that in places where they’re not following those mitigation strategies, we’re putting students at risk. We can’t accept that.”

via Newsmax:

Education Secretary Cardona: Nation at ‘Fork in the Road’ on COVID, Schools Reopening

miguel cardona speaks into mic
Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House Aug. 5, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

By Solange Reyner    |   Monday, 09 August 2021 01:43 PM

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says the nation is “clearly at a fork in the road” on COVID-19 mandates but urged school officials to take measures to help students be in school in person “and keep them safe.”

“We’re clearly at a fork in the road in this country,” Cardona said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “You’re either going to help students be in school in-person and be safe, or the decisions you make will hurt students. While I understand the argument around not wanting to wear masks because we’re fatigued, without question student safety and staff safety come first.”

Cardona said he also spoke with officials in Arkansas, Florida, and Texas about reopening schools but when asked whether he made any progress responded: “You know, I think what we’re seeing across the country is we recognize the importance of vaccinations and the president put a charge on all of us. Let’s get our vaccination pop-up clinics set up in our schools where students feel comfortable going to get it. And I think everyone across the country agrees on that. I believe strongly that we need to do everything, including our mitigation strategies, to make sure our students are safe. The data is showing us that in places where they’re not following those mitigation strategies, we’re putting students at risk. We can’t accept that.”

via Newsmax:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week issued an executive order that leaves it up to parents to decide whether their children wear face coverings in school. School boards that don’t eliminate mask mandates could face the loss of state funding.

In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott is refusing to enact any mandates for masks and vaccines and prohibiting local officials from doing so.

“I did talk to Gov. Abbott, and I spoke to the commissioner in Florida,” Cardona revealed. “We need to work together to make sure our schools are safe for all students and for our staff.”

“The data is showing us that in places where they’re not following those mitigation strategies, we’re putting students at risk,” Cardona then added. “We can’t accept that.”

The Dallas Independent School District on Monday announced that it would require students and teachers to wear masks at its campuses, defying Abbott’s order.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated it supports students returning to in-class learning, but has also recommended that anyone inside the schools wear masks regardless of their vaccination status.