Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Wednesday an emergency order allowing parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school if they're exposed to COVID-19, provided they're asymptomatic.
Why it matters: People infected with COVID-19 can spread the coronavirus starting from two days before they display symptoms, according to the CDC. Quarantine helps prevent the virus' spread.
- The CDC recommends unvaccinated students quarantine for 14 days. This period can be shortened to seven days if they test negative, per the CDC.
Of note: The order from State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, who was appointed Tuesday, also strengthen's the state's prohibition against school mask mandates.
- This prompted a judge to dismiss a lawsuit against the old rule that had been filed by five Florida school districts, per the Washington Post.
What they're saying: "Quarantining healthy students is incredibly damaging for their educational advancement," DeSantis said at a news conference in Kissimmee on Wednesday. "It's also disruptive for families. We are going to be following a symptoms-based approach."
- Corcoran noted in a statement that he and DeSantis "share a similar vision of weighing the costs and benefits of public health policies."
