On first day of school, students adjust to mask mandate

Students leave Norwalk High School after their first day back to in-person learning on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021. Many students did not social distance and some resisted wearing a mask indoors. (Photo by Vincent Medina)

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to more accurately reflect students’ return to campus in Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District.

NORWALK — Students in Norwalk La-Mirada Unified School District returned to in-person classes on Aug. 12, after a year of remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each school required students to wear masks indoors and measures were taken to encourage physical distancing.

Norwalk High School students reported that their classmates obeyed the mask mandate indoors and many continued to wear their masks outdoors, despite face coverings becoming optional outside.

The high school also took steps to encourage physical distancing. While physical distancing is no longer required by the district, it is encouraged by the CDC and the district.

Despite the majority of students following safety protocols, students reported rare instances of their classmates refusing to wear masks indoors.

Iris Rosales, sophomore at Norwalk High School, says there was some mask resistance during a morning class.

“There was one kid in my class who had his mask completely off,” Rosales said. “He had to be told twice to put it back on.”

Even if they are vaccinated, people who do not wear masks inside become vulnerable to COVID-19, as the virus can spread quickly indoors. Unmasked individuals can also spread the virus to others in their vicinity.

For students who are unvaccinated against COVID-19, masks are the only defense they have against the virus. If students are vaccinated they are less likely to contract the virus, but they can still spread COVID to their peers.

The COVID-19 Delta variant is estimated to be 50% more contagious than the original virus. People who are unvaccinated are more likely to be hospitalized and show severe symptoms.

Children under 12-years-old are ineligible to receive the vaccine.

At Morrison Elementary School, most students obeyed the mask mandate as well. Teachers and staff ensured that every student wore a face covering as they walked into school.

At Morrison, each grade exited through separate gates in order to keep students physically distanced.

While most students were obedient, there were some instances of mask resistance.

Alyssa Gonzales, a third-grade-student at Morrison, shared what she saw during class as her mother, Virginia Gonzales, picked her up from school.

“This boy was not wearing a mask in class,” Gonzales said. “Our teacher had to tell him to put it on and he was almost sent to the office.”

Rosales and Gonzales agreed that students should return to online learning if COVID-19 cases rise in their school, or in the district.