Wearing her mask, soon-to-be second-grader Cora Monhemius, 7, of Cranberry Township browses for books at the Cranberry Public Library.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education appears to be revising the rules as it goes when it comes to preparing for the school year.

Those rules changed again Monday after the department revised existing universal face covering regulations to reflect a stricter stance.

Children who are 2 years or older are now required to wear a mask during the school day.

Coverings can be removed:

• while eating or drinking at least 6 feet apart

• when wearing a covering creates an unsafe condition for operating equipment or completing a task

• during “face covering breaks” that last no longer than 10 minutes and occur with social distancing

• Students with documented medical or mental conditions or disabilities that prevent face coverings are exempt from the universal requirement. PDE states accommodations must be made accordingly.

Health and safety plans — which districts must develop and submit to the department — are required to incorporate the face covering order.

This is an excerpt from a story that appears in Wednesday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.