Unvaccinated Children Allowed Back at Hudson Valley Schools

Hudson Valley children unvaccinated from measles are allowed to return to school and public places.

On Friday, Judge Rolf Thorsen temporarily blocked Rockland County from banning anyone who is under 18 years of age and unvaccinated against the measles from public places, CNN reports.

"Petitioners' children are hereby permitted to return to their respective schools forthwith and otherwise to assemble in public places," Thorsen said.

In late March, Rockland County Executive Ed Day declared a countywide State of Emergency relating to the ongoing measles outbreak, banning unvaccinated children from public places in the county.

"I want my neighbors to know this decision by Judge Thorsen is a setback not a defeat. When we get knocked down we always get up and fight on. The stakes? The health of our loved ones, " Day said on Facebook after the ban was lifted. "Our health and legal professionals, joined by my executive team, will assemble Monday morning after a weekend of research with the express purpose of re-strategizing our approach to this growing health crisis. While we will always comport with the law and court direction, know that all options will be on the table, including the potential of another emergency declaration."

Despite the ban, this week, Rockland County officials announced measles continues to spread in the area with 161 confirmed cases.

On Wednesday, parents of unvaccinated children filed two cases in New York State Supreme Court to repeal the ban.

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A lawyer for the parents says the measure is an unfair penalty to healthy kids, while an attorney for Rockland County argues the local government is allowed to do what's necessary to contain and stop the outbreak.

Judge Thorsen scheduled a hearing for April 19.