The lines between the outdoors and indoors are being blurred. Homeowners build extensive outdoor living spaces so they can relax on weather-resistant furniture and even cook in lavish kitchens in their backyards. In addition, indoor three-season rooms full of bright, open windows that showcase outdoor vistas challenge the boundaries between outside and inside.

For those working with limited budgets, there are some easy, inexpensive ways to enjoy the majesty of natural landscapes indoors. Houseplants can be used to improve indoor spaces, and they also provide various health benefits.

Help with allergies

According to WebMD, rooms with houseplants tend to have less dust and mold in them than those without any foliage. Leaves and other parts of the plants serve as natural filters, catching airborne particles and allergens. Plants with textured leaves might be especially effective at trapping particles.

Put more oxygen into the air

The human respiratory system works by bringing in oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. Plants do the opposite during photosynthesis. They absorb carbon dioxide and then release oxygen. Plants can put much more oxygen into the air, improving indoor conditions.

Increase indoor humidity and reduce illness

Studies from the Agricultural University of Norway found that indoor plants can increase humidity in indoor spaces, which decreases the incidences of sore throats, dry coughs, dry skin, and the common cold. Higher absolute humidity can decrease the chances of survival and transmission of the flu virus.

Filter the air

Researchers who presented their work at the 252nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society found certain houseplants can combat the potentially harmful effects of volatile organic compounds. Plants may help filter out VOCs like benzene, acetone and formaldehyde, which can enter indoor air via cleaning supplies, dry-cleaned clothes, furniture, printers, and paints.

Improve interior atmosphere

Prevention magazine says plants can be used to screen unattractive areas, moderate room temperature by shading spots from the sun and even reduce noise. Plants also can improve ambiance and create a pleasing atmosphere in a room.

Can improve mood

Growing and caring for plants can alleviate everyday stress. A nationwide study from UK Magazine Gardeners World found 80% of gardeners declared themselves satisfied with life compared to 67O% among non-gardeners. Gardeners were more positive mentally. Greenery can help people feel more at home and improve mental health. A rehab center in Norway found patients reported a greater increase in well-being four weeks after having greenery added to their surroundings.

Houseplants can improve indoor areas and positively affect personal health.

Source: Metro Creative Services

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Originally Appeared Here

The importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) in senior living and care has received a lot of attention over the past few years. Even before the pandemic, owners and operators were beginning to take notice of the effect that air quality can have on senior living residents.

Although IAQ affects everyone, research shows that older adults are particularly susceptible to the health risks associated with poor air quality due to the aging body’s decreasing ability to compensate for the effects of environmental hazards. Air pollution, which can be two to five times worse inside than outside, can aggravate existing chronic health conditions common among seniors, including asthma, lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and heart disease, in addition to negatively affecting cognition. Ventilation, on the other hand, can positively affect sleep quality.

Before the pandemic, senior living owners and operators already were beginning to take action, given the aforementioned effects on senior health and quality of life, even if indoor air quality was not top of mind for prospective residents. The pandemic, however, dramatically increased public awareness around the importance of indoor air quality to the health of at-risk groups, such as older adults.

Senior living and care communities, where residents are vulnerable due to age-related changes in immune function, were particularly hard hit by COVID-19, for which transmission primarily is airborne. Results from a survey conducted by the Delos Consumer Insights Team in September support this increased awareness within the general public. The team surveyed 983 seniors and their families and found that 57% of respondents felt negatively about the health and safety of senior living residences as a result of the pandemic and the breakouts in nursing homes. Given that the number of Americans going into nursing homes — part of the long-term care continuum of which senior living is a part — is expected to increase from 15 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050, 57% is a sizable amount of potential residents and their families who feel negatively toward senior living and care as a result of COVID-19.

With respect to indoor air quality, 62% of respondents said that COVID-19 made them more aware of the importance of good indoor ventilation and air filtration, compared with 29% of respondents who said they always felt that air filtration was important. The survey also showed that prospective residents and their families were likely to factor a community’s indoor air quality mitigation measures in their decision on where to live, with 46% of respondents indicating that air purification measures were important factors or even a necessity in deciding where to live and 63% of respondents indicating they would likely or very likely choose one facility over another based on prioritization of air purification.

As one respondent stated, “Air quality is an important part of living, especially for the elderly and immunocompromised. Any company willing to go the extra mile and make air filtration/quality a priority will always get my respect and consideration before companies that choose not to make it a priority.”

From the results of Delos’ survey, we can conclude that indoor air quality is a much stronger consideration for prospective residents and their families than it has been in the past. Indeed, seniors rated it as the third highest concern they had, behind quality of care and safety.

So what actions should senior living communities take to help future residents feel more confident about their health and safety of the facility? From the perspective of future residents, senior living communities need to go beyond HVAC upgrades. Prospective residents and their families responded that, with respect to air purification units, what would contribute most to their feelings of safety were indicators that air purifier units were working, such as flashing lights or the device activating in the presence of pollutants. Respondents also highly ranked other measures, such as receiving alerts when air quality becomes a concern, as well as having air purifier devices in their private residences/rooms and also in common areas where residents are likely to congregate.  

The survey also showed that prospective residents and their families would overwhelmingly choose a senior living community that receives a third-party health and safety certification over one that does not. Such certifications provide outside review and validation of a senior living community’s operational policies, maintenance protocols and emergency plans. Among survey respondents, 93% stated that third-party certification was at least a consideration, and 49% of respondents viewed it as an important factor in deciding where to live. Sixty-four percent of respondents responded that they would likely or very likely choose one community over another if they received a health safety certification.

Additionally, certain respondents stressed the concern for the third party’s credibility. As an example, one respondent noted, “Certification from a *respectable* third party tells me that the facility is serious about providing decent care.”

As the Delos survey suggests, there is considerable consumer concern over indoor air quality that is unlikely to go away any time soon. The pandemic highlighted an important aspect of indoor environments that was previously not as well understood by the general public as it was by the scientific community. Now is the time to listen to the concerns of prospective residents and their families and take actions to provide a safer, healthier living environment and raise consumer confidence.

Carolina Campanella, Ph.D., is a vice president at Delos Labs who specializes in behavioral science. She works with research and development, product and marketing teams to collect and analyze behavioral, marketing and UX insights. Campanella is an expert in well-being and productivity.

The opinions expressed in each McKnight’s Senior Living marketplace column are those of the author and are not necessarily those of McKnight’s Senior Living.

Have a column idea? See our submission guidelines and answers to FAQs here.

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Originally Appeared Here

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced that two of Virginia’s federally recognized Native American tribes would be receiving more than $2 million in federal funding to aid their COVID-19 response.

According to a release from the senators, the Chickahominy Eastern Division is set to receive $1.01 million to make indoor air quality improvements to homes. The Nansemond Indian Nation will receive $998,000 to expand their community center.

The plan for the community center — which is used to distribute COVID-19 tests, vaccines and food — is to increase capacity, upgrade the kitchen and install solar panels.

Northam pledges more than $20 million for Tribal land re-acquisition and cultural site conservation

The Virginia Department of Health has reported 3,006 COVID-19 cases among Native Americans in Virginia.

The money for these projects is coming from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Indian Community Development Block Grant program. The grant program is in part funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.

“As the Omicron variant continues to create challenges for people across the Commonwealth, we’re glad to see that these federal dollars will provide critical relief for communities hit hard by the pandemic,” said the Senators. “This funding will help provide these tribes with services necessary to protect their health and safety.”

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Originally Appeared Here

NORMAL — Late start days may soon be a thing of the past for McLean County Unit 5 schools.

Assistant Superintendent Michelle Lamboley presented a proposal to the school board Wednesday night that would replace 12 late start days with seven half days for student attendance.

“We know that right now our staff are not getting the full benefit of our current time with the late starts, as they are going to pick up students from the bus in the morning, preparing for their students about to arrive. They’re just not really getting what the time is intended for, the full amount of time. ” she said of the professional learning communities time, or PLC, that the one-hour late starts were designed for.

Lamboley

Unit 5 staff was surveyed in November and of the respondents 73% said a half day school improvement model would be more beneficial than the late start system that has been in place since 2010.

Using half days that land on different weekdays throughout the school year, elementary students would be released at 10:45 a.m., junior high students released at 11:45 a.m. and high school students released at 11:30 a.m.

Junior high and high school students would still meet for each class but within shortened class periods.

The latter half of the school day would be divided, giving 90 minutes for PLC and 90 minutes for school improvement activities.

District administration is working on other areas that could be affected by this change, including lunch service, child care considerations, athletics and other extracurricular activities.

Board President Amy Roser said late start days have consistently been a source of difficulty for many parents so she expected this proposed change to be well-received.

The calendar committee also proposed moving the parent-teacher conference day from October to November, which would land on the Monday before Election Day, another non-attendance day. The board holiday that typically is observed as a non-attendance day in April would become a half day for student attendance and half school improvement day.

The board is expected to vote on the proposed calendar at its next meeting, Feb. 9.

In other business, the board voted to approve a $1.4 million indoor air quality and energy efficiency proposal from Alpha Controls & Services under the Omnia Partners Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.

Executive Director of Operations Joe Adelman said this project will be funded by Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, as part of federal COVID relief funding.

Adelman

The project will address upgrades at Normal Community and Normal West high schools and Parkside and Pepper Ridge elementary schools.

“This is going to give us an additional $275,000 in annual savings on gas and electric,” Adelman said, adding that once this project is finished the district will be spending about $1.8 million per year on energy, compared to about $3.5 million 15 years ago.

The district’s energy efficiency efforts have also resulted in 80% of the school buildings being Energy Star certified, he said.

“While energy costs are going up, ours are going down.”

Photos: Keeping warm with city of Bloomington Public Works crews

INSIDE

Jeff Branhan loads salt into a truck at the Bloomington yard on Friday. 

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

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City of Bloomington Public Works heavy machine operator Kenny Herman attaches a snow plow onto a salt truck.

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

DOMINANT

City of Bloomington Public Works laborer Larry Coleman dresses for potential cold weather before taking to the streets with his salt truck on Friday. Frigid temperatures forces crews to adapt. See a video with this story at pantagraph.com. 

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

011922-blm-loc-3cold

City of Bloomington Public Works trucks driver Jeff Branhan dressed for cold weather as he used a front end loader to fill trucks with salt, Friday, Jan. 14.

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

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City of Bloomington Public Works truck driver Jeff Branhan loaded a truck with salt, Friday, Jan. 14.

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

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City of Bloomington Public Works worker Joe DeGraeve cleared a front end loader of debris while loading leaves on the city’s southwest side, Thursday, Jan. 13.

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

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City of Bloomington Public Works worker Mike Donnelly sweeps up leaves during a warm afternoon, Thursday, Jan. 13. While the temperature was only around 36 degrees, laborers who expend energy with active jobs can usually get by without heavy clothing.

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

SECONDARY

City of Bloomington Public Works driver David Alvarez checks the attachment of a plow to his truck on Friday. 

DAVID PROEBER, THE PANTAGRAPH

Contact Kelsey Watznauer at (309) 820-3254. Follow her on Twitter: @kwatznauer.

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UTAH (ABC4) – We all know just how bad the inversion has been the last few days. It has prompted many of us to stay inside thanks to all of the pollution just lingering near the valley floors.

But is our indoor air quality any better?

“It’s not just one straightforward answer, because if you have a home that’s very leaky, it’s construction isn’t very tight then literally once every hour the air in your home is replaced by the air outside of your home,” says Dan Dearden, Founder of Just Right Air & Heating.

Haze and dry skies, weather changes coming

The dirty polluted air can still seep into our homes if they are not properly sealed which means the bad air is also inside. Not giving us any break from the dingy air.

How can we make sure that our indoor air quality is better than what we are seeing outside?

“There are filtration systems that can catch particles down to, it’s called microns. .3 microns and that’s a very, very, very tiny particle,” says Dearden.

But if you do not want to change out your existing system, there are some tips you can follow to improve that air quality.

What causes our temperature inversion?

The tips are to make sure your furnace or filtration system filters are clean and new, reduce allergens inside the home, and properly sealing your home.

“If it’s an older home, then you can do the weatherization to the home. So, close up the gaps in the cracks of the windows and the gaps in the home that allow that outside air from coming in,” says Dearden.

The added benefit of weatherizing an older home is not just making sure the dirty air seeps in but also keeping in your heat and reducing emissions from heating sources.

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Originally Appeared Here

The American Lung Association encourages everyone to test their homes during National Radon Action Month

By: Tim Studebaker

Facebook: @TStudebakerABC6

Twitter: @TStudebakerABC6

Email: [email protected]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – January is National Radon Action Month, and the American Lung Association wants you to know how you can protect yourself and your family from this naturally occurring radioactive gas that can sometimes seep into our homes.

Daniel Fitzgerald is the Rhode Island Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association.  Fitzgerald says, “There are some really serious health risks that come from radon.  We know that it’s actually the second leading cause of lung cancer.”

According to the American Lung Association, radon-related lung cancers kill an estimated 21,000 people per year in the US.  According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, 1 out of every 4 homes in the state contain radon at or above the EPA’s action level.  It’s much more common here compared to the national average of 1 out of every 15 homes.

Fitzgerald says, “Just because of the makeup of our soil here, maybe some older foundations is kind of why we see some of those increased rates.”

Since it’s colorless and odorless, you wouldn’t even know it’s there unless you test for it.

Fitzgerald says, “There’s a kind of short-term, do-it-yourself kit which is pretty inexpensive, and then there are some more long-term, higher quality versions of that.”

While the American Lung Association encourages everyone to test their homes, there are some hotspots in our area.  According to the Department of Health, more than half of homes tested in Exeter and Richmond have exceeded the EPA’s action level.

Fitzgerald says, “The biggest message from us is get your home tested, whether you rent it, whether you own it, and really make sure that you know the quality of the air that you’re breathing.”

To learn more, visit the American Lung Association website: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/at-home/indoor-air-pollutants/radon

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2022

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Originally Appeared Here

WESTPORT — School officials are looking at possibly spending at least $22 million to renovate Long Lots Elementary School or replacing the school entirely after a recent report presented to the Board of Education.

Colliers Project Leaders conducted a study to analyze various problems at the school, reporting renovations could cost $22 million, if not more. Charles E. Warrington, Jr., the company’s project management director, even suggested the school district should consider replacing the building entirely.

Board member Robert Harrington said it’s almost a “here we go again” situation.

Fresh off the reopening for Coleytown Middle School’s $32 million project, the school board is looking to use the lessons learned with that project to avoid a possible deja vu. The first way the school board plans to do that is to address the problem “expeditiously,” Superintendent Thomas Scarice said.

“I am very confident the board is going to take action expeditiously to move to the next step,” Scarice said. “I cannot see this languishing six, eight, ten, 12 months from now. I see board action happening.”

Maintenance has been a continual issue at Long Lots. Collier launched its study after mold was detected last August through a Tools For School analysis. While the mold was found and leaks were fixed, through additional testing Colliers found that the school needed more work. Warrington said some of the problems were just common things that are found in buildings built in the 1950s and 60s.

Long Lots was built in 1953 as a junior high school.

The study looked into indoor air quality, the building’s windows, walls, roof and ceilings, as well as the mechanical and electrical systems. It showed the building is “aging out,” Warrington told the school board.

Warrington said in a letter to Scarice that most of the systems in the building are past their useful life with many of them dating back to the original construction of the building. He said two of the major building systems are in poor condition, including the mechanical and electrical system.

“If one of these systems fails, it will typically cause the other to work harder or possibly become ineffective in its intended use,” Warrington said. “However, both systems are failing and in our professional opinion beyond their useful life where full replacement of the systems should be considered.”

Warrington said the building envelope — which consists of the roof, walls, doors, window and louvers, as well as the building slab and foundation — is also an issue.

“It is clear the building is aging out,” he said.

Scarice said the building is safe to inhabit and use and there has been “zero talk” about moving the 580 students out of the building.

While the report for the repairs at the elementary school came in at $22 million, Warrington said that the cost could go up. He said there are always hidden conditions within a building from this era that are “unforeseeable” until work starts.

“The possibilities are endless, but must be accounted for when budgeting for such a project,” he said.

Harrington and board member Neil Phillips said the board needed to get feedback from parents who dealt with the Coleytown renovation.

“Ask them if they had to do it over again, would they have [the school] built from scratch or renovate,” Harrington said.

Scarice said his intention is to return to the board in two to three months with two or three options that will better serve the school and its instructional model. Those options include a full renovation of the school, or to rebuild it either on its current footprint or somewhere else on the property.

“Now that a thorough review of the Long Lots Elementary School mechanical and building envelope has been completed, it will be necessary to review these projects in the context of the district-wide capital plan, and to make considerations for how the current facility supports, or hinders, sound elementary instructional practices,” Scarice said.

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Originally Appeared Here

With Panasonic’s nanoe-X technology helping inhibit bacteria and viruses within your home, for “total peace of mind,” Panasonic’s new floor-standing Air Purifier filters unwanted pollutants coming into the home and reduces unwanted contaminants lingering inside to provide “optimal indoor air quality.”

Panasonic launches latest nanoeX-enhanced Air Purifier for clean air in your homeWith the average person breathing in 18kg of air every day, it’s no surprise to see Panasonic state “air is an essential part of our lives.z.

Employing its innovative features, the new range purifies the air with nanoeX technology, which actively cleans the air in the room, impacting upon airborne and surface impurities. OH radicals encapsulated in water neutralise micro-organisms and pollutants – inhibiting up to 99% of bacteria, viruses, mould and allergens, both airborne and on surfaces, as well as reducing odours.

Ginger Yu, Product Marketing Manager, Appliances, Panasonic said: “Australians are now more conscious than ever about what they’re breathing into their bodies. With our Air Purifier, they can create an atmosphere that feels clean and is clean. At Panasonic, our goal is to help make our customers’ lives easier while always maintaining the highest quality in all our products.”

“We’re happy to be able to do that with our nanoeX technology, which helps them create a safe space to breathe in. We want customers to be able to relax at home and know that their Air Purifier is working constantly to purify the air, and to provide them with a healthier environment.”

The units’ rounded super-ellipse design has a small footprint, making it an attractive and discreet addition to the modern home. Style and functionality intersect in Panasonic’s newest Air Purifier to enhance any space it’s in. Suitable for rooms of up to 95m2, it’s perfect for any room within the house whether it is the bedroom, living room or office space.

More than just fresh air for your health, Panasonic says its latest Air Purifier helps retain the moisture in the skin and hair – there is no need to sacrifice hydrated skin for clean air. The revolutionary nanoeX technology helps to prevent moisture loss so that the skin and hair remains hydrated.

Ensuring comfort and cleanliness

• Equipped with a HEPA composite filter – prevents bacteria reproduction and effectively removes up to 99.99% of ultra-fine particles of 0.003 microns that can potentially travel deep into your lungs and cause health problems.
• De-formaldehyde Technology – using a 3-step process, formaldehyde contaminants which may be present in household items such as furniture are removed by chemical decomposition, activated carbon absorption and trapping.
• Odour/PM2.5 (Particulate Matter) Indicator – displays the PM2.5 concentration level within the home on an LCD panel in numerical form and indicates odour level via a coloured line on the LCD panel (purple indicates a high level, green is medium level and blue is low level).
• NanoeX technology – helps inhibit pollutants, both airborne and on surfaces in the home. Pollutants inhibited include bacteria, viruses, mould, pollen, dust mite allergens, pet allergens, pollution, and bushfire smoke.
• Variety of features – a multitude of features including a brightness sensor, ability to control air volume, child lock, filter replacement indicator and LCD indication panel that has a smart light sensor which dims when ambient light is low.

Maintaining health and hydration

• Skin Hydration – the nanoeX capabilities combine with the natural sebum to coat and hydrate the skin.
• Hair Hydration – the moisture in nanoeX hydrates the hair as well.

Pricing and availability

The latest Air Purifier will be available from selected consumer electronics retailers and rolls-out from January 2022, retailing at $989 RRP.

• F-PXU70MWL Air Purifier – due Jan 2022 – $989.
• F-ZXTD70ZL Deodorising filter, sold separately from Feb 2022 – $99
• F-ZXTP70ZL HEPA filter, sold separately from Feb 2022 – $169

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Originally Appeared Here

Submitted by Thurston Climate Action Team

In a business meeting on Tuesday, January 18, the Olympia City Council finalized the resolution they passed by unanimous vote on January 11 to accelerate the transition of building throughout the city to all-electric power and heat. The resolution acknowledges the severity of the climate crisis stating, “climate change is an existential crisis posing one of the most serious threats to the existence of humanity.” The resolution goes on to address the growing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from the building sector statewide and the needed reductions required to meet the goals set forth in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan, passed in January of last year.

To address the role of built environments in the growing climate crisis, and to meet city targets, Council hopes to encourage electrification of City‐owned buildings as well as building projects that receive City funding.  The resolution also sets in motion an inventory and feasibility study regarding potential retrofits of City‐owned facilities that currently use fossil fuels. This policy goes into effect on April st of this year.

Olympia is now the third city in western Washington to create and pass a policy on building electrification in recent months. Shoreline and Bellingham legislated their own policies pertaining to the transition of the building sector to renewable energy this Fall. This wave of electrification policy making  is part of a growing trend towards regulating new commercial and large multifamily buildings through commercial energy codes. As momentum builds behind the nationwide building electrification movement, several more of these policies are in progress among local governments throughout the Pacific Northwest including Seattle, Tacoma, King County, Eugene, and Multnomah County.

Taking action on gas prioritizes cleaner air and public health

Burning fossil fuels in buildings accounts for almost one quarter of Washington state’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the 2021 State Energy Strategy. While emissions from electricity and transportation are declining, emissions from buildings in Washington have continued to grow. In fact, building emissions are growing at the fastest rate of any sector in the state. Using gas, propane, and wood in homes and businesses also creates indoor air pollution that exacerbates risk of respiratory disease and existing respiratory conditions. A 2013 study found that growing up in a home that used gas stoves led to a 42-percent increase in a child’s risk of developing asthma symptoms.

Additionally, both Washington and Oregon have now passed 100% clean energy laws putting the Northwest on a pathway to getting fossil fuels out of the electricity grid, transitioning fully off coal and gas for power generation. Putting this clean, low-cost electricity to work in buildings is a huge climate win. Using all-electric appliances and systems in buildings eliminates these hazards and costs less to construct and operate. And building all-electric eliminates the costs of hooking up new buildings to gas lines.

Environmental advocacy groups Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT) and Climate Solutions, applaud Olympia’s action and are encouraging more cities in Washington to use this policy tool to effectively reduce emissions, support their climate goals, and promote cleaner, healthier environments for residents.

“Olympia will not be able to achieve its pledge of reaching net-zero emissions by 2040 without electrifying buildings and substantially reducing our dependence on fossil gas, said Dr. Pamela Braff, Olympia’s Climate Program Manager. “Recognizing the importance of this transition, Olympia City Council has committed to electrifying all new city-owned buildings and will begin discussing the pathways and potential challenges to electrifying all new buildings city-wide.”

Upon the passing of the resolution, Councilmember Lisa Parshley reflected, “Tonight is one of those nights where I’ll go home and think about what we accomplished, and think to myself, ‘This is why I wanted this job.’ I’m proud of my colleagues tonight, and especially thankful for and proud of the city staff who worked so hard on this. We are making it crystal clear, with this resolution, that we take climate change seriously. By declaring a state of emergency, we acknowledge our obligation to act swiftly to address this crisis. The last few weeks of weather brought it right to us, into our homes and businesses. We are running out of road to kick the can down and running out of excuses as to why we can’t do something bold. Tonight was the first step toward honoring our stated climate goals and affirms our role as a city in making the Thurston County Climate Mitigation Plan a success.”

 

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Originally Appeared Here

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s first full week in office has been highlighted by controversy surrounding one of the 11 executive orders he signed immediately after being sworn in Jan. 15.

Executive Order 2, or EO2 as it is being referred to, essentially states that as of Jan. 24, the emergency order issued by Youngkin’s predecessor Ralph Northam about mask-wearing in public will be rescinded. More specifically, it eliminates language in the emergency order that reads, “All students, teachers, staff, and visitors must wear a mask over their nose and mouth while on school property.”

Youngkin said his order was “reaffirming the rights of parents in the upbringing, education, and care of their children.” He chided the Northam order, saying the requirement was “ineffective and impractical.

“Permitting parents to make decisions on where and when to wear masks permits the Commonwealth’s parents to make the best decision for the circumstances confronting each child,” Youngkin wrote in the order. “Parents can assess the risks and benefits facing their child, consult their medical providers, and make the best decision for their children based on the most up to date health information available. While parents of some students with conditions that increase the risks of COVID-19 infection might require their children to remained masked during the duration of the school day, other parents may require masks for a more limited duration, if at all.”

There are five other actions outlined in the order. Let’s take a look at each of them to see what they mean:

1. The parents of any child enrolled in a elementary or secondary school or a school based early childcare and educational program may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect at the child’s school or educational program. This is an “opt-out” for parents who do not want their children to wear masks during any portion of in-school education, and includes lunch and any class recess periods.
2. No parent electing that a mask mandate should not apply to his or her child shall be required to provide a reason or make any certification concerning their child’s health or education. In a nutshell, the parent is not required to give any reason — medical, religious or otherwise — why they do not want their child masked in school
3. A child whose parent has elected that he or she is not subject to a mask mandate should not be required to wear a mask under any policy implemented by a teacher, school, school district, the Department of Education, or any other state authority. Teachers, administrators and other school staff will not be allowed to tell a student they must wear a mask or they will not be permitted to be on the property.
4. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall rescind the Interim Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in Virginia PreK-12 Schools, issued January 14, 2021, and updated October 14, 2021, and issue new guidance for COVID-19 Prevention consistent with this Order. The old saying, “a new broom sweeps clean,” applies here. This guidance was issued by state school superintendent Dr. James Lane, who resigned last month. Youngkin’s appointee is former Wyoming state school superintendent Dr. Jillian Balow, and it is highly unlikely Balow would do anything to cross her new boss.
5. School districts should marshal any resources available to improve inspection, testing, maintenance, repair, replacement and upgrades of equipment to improve the indoor air quality in school facilities, including mechanical and non-mechanical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, filtering, purification, fans, control systems and window and door repair. Building maintenance has been an ongoing issue, especially among the lesser-funded school systems, but the COVID-19 pandemic expedited several improvement projects.

Youngkin’s authority to lift the mask mandates in schools was immediately challenged by several school systems across Virginia, including Richmond, Henrico, northern Virginia and Staunton, all of whom say they will keep the mandates in place beyond Jan. 24. Published reports also state that 13 parents in Chesapeake are suing the governor to block EO2.

Locally, school systems in Petersburg, Hopewell and Prince George have made any public references to the mask mandate. Both said they will look at the nuances of EO2 and will respond accordingly.

“At this point, masks are still required in all Hopewell City Public Schools and we will notify you when there is updated guidance or any changes,” Hopewell schools said in a message on its website.

“We remain committed to doing everything possible to protect the health of our entire school community,” Prince George said on its school website, adding it will provide an update on its decision Jan. 23, the day before the Youngkin order goes into effect.

Related:COVID-19 at-home tests free from government: Order online, no charge for USPS delivery

Related:Petersburg’s COVID cases up 22.7%; Virginia cases surge 27.2%

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is daily news coach for USA TODAY’s Southeast Region-Unified Central, which includes Virginia, West Virginia and central North Carolina. He is based in Petersburg, Virginia. Reach him at [email protected].

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