As front-line providers of healthcare to the children of New York, the 6000 members of Chapters 1, 2 and 3 of the New York State District II of the American Academy of Pediatrics are dedicated to the physical and mental health of all children.
Because we deeply care about the health and well-being of all New York children, NYS AAP continues to strongly recommend universal masking for children in school consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Health Department. There are almost 100 studies which clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of proper masking to reduce the impact of airborne diseases, and 18 major studies which specifically show the effectiveness of masking in mitigating COVID-19.
According to most recent statistics, New York is not yet free of the highly contagious Omicron variant. Until such time as physicians and scientists determine it is safe to remove masks in indoor spaces such as schools, NYS AAP will continue to strongly recommend that science prevails and schools continue to require masks for the safety of students and teachers.