New controversial guidelines surrounding school quarantine announced by the Gov

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – New controversial guidelines surrounding school quarantine announced by the state Tuesday are already being questioned by Oklahoma education leaders.

Gov. Kevin Stitt and Oklahoma State Department of Health leaders announced that from now on, quarantining after an in-school exposure to COVID-19 might not be necessary.

“Schools that enforce the use of masks will not have to quarantine potential exposures unless they’re showing symptoms,” Stitt said.

It’s an effort to keep kids safely in school. The governor said they feel confident it will be safe based on studies conducted in other states.

According to the new policy, those who test positive or have symptoms will still have to quarantine.

However, now those exposed will not have to isolate at home as long as everyone in the classroom was wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.

Stitt said he believes this rule change will be more effective than imposing a statewide mask mandate.

“I believe that more school districts, even if they don’t have a mask mandate, will do it now since the quarantine rules have changed,” the governor said.

Stitt condemned school districts that he said “refuse” to let students return to in-person learning and “deny” teachers the opportunity to return to the classroom.

Read more on this story at the local news site: KFOR