What's next in the battle over masks in schools

Following a few days of confusion for some, Long Island schools returned to requiring masks on Wednesday as a court battle persists over whether they must continue to do so. Today's newsletter covers what's next in the court fight. Plus: What state officials are warning about scammers and COVID-19 test kits, and why home sales have fallen by half since the pandemic started.   By Erin Serpico Masking in LI schools: What happens next A state mandate requires face masks inside all public and private school buildings, including Roosevelt Middle School. Credit: Howard Schnapp Thousands of Long Island students went back to class with masks as a court battle ensues over whether the mask mandate should continue. The next step in the court fight comes Friday. Earlier this week, a State Supreme Court judge in Nassau County ruled that Gov. Kathy Hochul's statewide mandate ordering students and staff in schools to wear masks indoors is unconstitutional and can no longer be enforced. Hochul said that evening the state would appeal the decision "immediately." Advertisements By Tuesday afternoon, the mandate went back into effect after an appellate division judge suspended the Nassau judge's decision. That meant the many Long Island school districts that declared masks optional had to go back to requiring them again on Wednesday, causing confusion in some LI school districts. During a Newsday Live virtual conversation on this topic Wednesday, several policy and health experts said confusion has resulted from the court battle. By 10 a.m. on Friday, lawyers for the state and opponents must submit written arguments to the state Appellate Division. A four-judge panel will review written arguments and issue a decision, but probably not Friday. Lucian Chalfen, spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration, said judges will issue a ruling "in an expedited time frame, possibly as early as next week." Meanwhile, medical experts have reiterated the importance of wearing masks to minimize transmission of COVID-19, calling them "extremely important." Advertisements The number of new positives reported today: 1,051 in Nassau, 1,171 in Suffolk, 6,392 in New York City and 17,305 statewide. This chart shows what percentage of COVID-19 tests were positive on average each day over a seven-day period on Long Island. Search a map of new cases, and view more charts showing the latest local trends in vaccinations, testing, hospitalizations, deaths and more. See more coronavirus headlines below. Debate over masking LI school kids: No panacea so far Among the questions driving the often heated disagreements over masked-up children in schools: When is a parent's right to decide what's best for their children supplanted by the need to protect the public at large from spread of the coronavirus? NY warns of 'scammers' offering COVID-19 kits for personal info The scheme attempts to bilk consumers by offering COVID-19 tests provided by the federal government in exchange for personal and financial information, according to state consumer and health department officials. To our community: Newsday readers support our strong local journalism by subscribing. Please show you value this important work by becoming a subscriber now. Subscribe for $1 Pfizer opens study of COVID shots updated to match omicron Pfizer has begun a study comparing its original COVID-19 vaccine with doses specially tweaked to match the hugely contagious omicron variant. LI homes: Sales fall as inventory has 'collapsed'  The number of houses on the market has plunged, leading to fewer sales and a tough environment for buyers.  Advertisement U.S. weekly jobless claims fall for the first time in a month Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week following three straight increases economists blamed on the surge in cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Newsday's Breaking News newsletter Get breaking news as it happens. Sign up for our email news alerts. SIGN UP COVID may not get you a free pass to cancel reservations Businesses face coronavirus quandaries on whether to waive no-refund policies when the customer has the contagious disease. WHO: Record weekly COVID cases last week but deaths stable The World Health Organization said there were 21 million new coronavirus cases reported globally last week, the highest weekly number of COVID-19 cases recorded since the pandemic began. The number of deaths was largely unchanged, at more than 50,000. Advertisement SAT college-entrance exam going digital in U.S., starting in 2024 The move reflects, in part, an expanded use of online technology in education spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Manhattan-based College Board introduced the written exam nearly a century ago. Plaza theater postpones 'The Color Purple' The local premiere of the musical "The Color Purple," which was scheduled to open in March at Plaza Broadway Long Island in Elmont, has been postponed until May 21 due to the rise in COVID-19 cases. Nine LI school districts face fiscal risk, state comptroller says The nine districts are among 23 statewide that face varying degrees of financial risk, said the state comptroller's office. It noted that many systems had to deal with "extreme" operational issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Sign up for more newsletters You can cancel anytime How are we doing? 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