DeSantis Says 'Kids Do Not Need' Masks in Classrooms This Fall

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made it clear he thinks kids should have a sense of normalcy — without masks — when they return to classrooms this fall.

“These kids do not need to be wearing these masks. OK? I'm sorry, they don't," DeSantis said during a news conference at Christ the King Catholic School in Jacksonville on Tuesday. "We need to be able to let them be kids and let them act normally, that's what should be the case in the fall throughout the school year."

"What's our direction to the school districts and the other schools? Our direction is relatively simple. Have a normal school year," he said. "That's what we want, and that's what will happen."

Some public school districts have not announced any changes to their face mask policies but said they are continuing to monitor the latest updates with case numbers as the new school year approaches, Fox 29 reports.

Florida's 12 public universities will encourage, rather than require, the campus community to wear face coverings indoors and to follow CDC guidelines on campuses beginning this summer.

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