Racine Sun

Racine Mayor Cory Mason said his two children both under 12 years of age and not eligible for a vaccine were exposed to the COVID-19 virus at school during their first two weeks of attendance.

He urged others to practice safety precautions as the virus has spiked since July.

“Both of our younger kids (who are too young to be vaccinated) have been exposed at their school in less than two weeks,” Mason said in a Facebook post. “Both will now quarantine for the required time, disrupting their education. They are not alone. Like many parents, my wife Rebecca Mason and I will scramble to make adjustments to our work lives for our COVID exposed kids.

Children under 12 are too young for a vaccine,” he added. “Let’s help keep our kids safe. Wear a mask indoors; and please, for yourself and the sake of children everywhere, if you haven’t already: GET VACCINATED!”

In August, the Racine Unified School District Board mandated the wearing of masks for the 2021-2022 school year, for everyone who stepped on the school grounds.

A report on WISN ABC said a public hearing to discuss the mandate drew support as well as angry protest from area parents at a School Board hearing on Aug. 16.

"I have to sign a paper to have my child get an aspirin, yet masks do not require consent?" asked resident Tammy Malik. "For him to be oxygen-deprived does not require my consent?"    

Jerome Dunk spoke in support of the mandate.

"You are going to hear a lot of loud angry voices,” he said. “Truth is not determined how loud these voices are. We must listen to reputable sources, reputable science."

School District Superintendent Eric Gallien indicated the mandate plan would remain flexible and could be reevaluated given changes in the rates of infection.

According to the New York Times monitor of the numbers of COVID-19 cases, new cases of the virus in Racine went from single digits in July and as low as zero, to 100 new cases over a seven-day average as of Sept. 20.