A statewide group of pediatricians is urging that all children wear masks during the upcoming school year.

The Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a release on Thursday urging the "universal use of masks and physical distancing" as coronavirus cases continue to spike across the state.

The recommendation includes mask use by students, faculty and staff.

"Masking should be in addition to the continuation of testing protocols in schools to mitigate the spread of infection," the statement said in part.

The organization said the use of face masks is necessary since children 12 and under cannot receive a COVID-19 vaccine, and likely will not be eligible "until winter of 2021," the statement read.

It also recommends vaccines for all eligible children, faculty and staff.

Thursday's statement comes days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended masking in schools.

Cases continue to surge in Florida due to the delta variant, with the CDC reporting 17,589 new COVID-19 cases and 56 deaths in its reported Thursday by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued to push back against the idea of mandatory face masks.

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