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Loophole allows some Pennsylvania students to avoid masking

HARRISBURG, Pa. — A loophole in Pennsylvania’s new mask mandate for schools is allowing untold numbers of students to go to class without having to cover their faces.

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The state health secretary’s order requiring masks to be worn inside K-12 school and child care facilities took effect Tuesday. It includes an exemption for students who claim it would cause or worsen a medical condition. But the masking order does not require a student to produce a doctor’s note or other supporting medical documentation.

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Now some school boards that oppose the statewide mandate are allowing students to come to class unmasked with just a parent’s signature.