It's Necessary: It's time for all schools to mandate masks

The start of a new school year is upon us. New classes, new friends and a new(ish) coronavirus variant. We're in the middle of a delta variant surge, with many states seeing more COVID-19 cases than at any time during the pandemic. And while vaccinations can prevent serious illness and death, the vaccines have yet to be approved for all children. The best way to prevent the spread of the delta variant in schools is to mandate masks for all students, faculty and staff. 

While some school districts have implemented these safety measures, others have yet to mandate masks. To some, enforcing the wearing of masks is a sign of tyranny, and goes against freedom. But freedom won't stop the spread of a deadly, highly contagious virus that has begun to make children sick. It's time that all schools mandate masks.

More:CPS board votes unanimously to keep universal mask mandate

More:What to know about Gov. Beshear's new mask mandate for Kentucky schools

Kevin Necessary is an illustrator and editorial cartoonist. His editorial cartoons appear Sundays in The Enquirer.