The statewide mask requirement for K-12 schools in Massachusetts will be lifted at the end of the month, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced Wednesday. The school mask mandate in Massachusetts will come to an end on Feb. 28, one week after February vacation.At that time, DESE and the Department of Public Health recommend students and faculty wear masks in certain scenarios consistent with DESE’s COVID-19 protocols. “Given the low extremely low risk for young people, the widespread availability and the proven effectiveness of vaccines and the distribution of accurate test protocols and tests, it is time to give our kids a sense of normalcy and lift the mask mandate on a statewide basis for schools,” Gov. Charlie Baker said. School districts no longer need to request a waiver from DESE to remove masks in school buildings where 80% of staff and students are vaccinated.Masking will be a community choice in schools across the state regardless of vaccination rates within a school; however, a school district could establish a local requirement. “The state mask mandate is being lifted. What happens next will be at a local level,” Riley said.Masks will still be required on school buses because COVID-19 safety measures for transportation falls under a federal guideline. The Department of Early Education and Care will also lift the mask requirements currently in place for all licensed child care providers effective Feb. 28, and allow programs to develop policies specific to the children they serve. The Department of Early Education and Care will release additional guidance for programs next week, officials said.Originally imposed in August, the mandate has been extended three times and the department has generally announced the extensions the week before the expiration date. The most recent data from DESE shows just 10,068 students tested positive for COVID-19, which is 1.09% of all students learning in person.Officials said 1,918 teachers and staff also tested positive for COVID-19, which is 1.37% of all teachers in the state.Several other states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, have rescinded their school mask requirements in recent days.Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is urging officials against dropping mask mandates in schools.
The statewide mask requirement for K-12 schools in Massachusetts will be lifted at the end of the month, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced Wednesday.
The school mask mandate in Massachusetts will come to an end on Feb. 28, one week after February vacation.
At that time, DESE and the Department of Public Health recommend students and faculty wear masks in certain scenarios consistent with DESE’s COVID-19 protocols.
“Given the low extremely low risk for young people, the widespread availability and the proven effectiveness of vaccines and the distribution of accurate test protocols and tests, it is time to give our kids a sense of normalcy and lift the mask mandate on a statewide basis for schools,” Gov. Charlie Baker said.
School districts no longer need to request a waiver from DESE to remove masks in school buildings where 80% of staff and students are vaccinated.
Masking will be a community choice in schools across the state regardless of vaccination rates within a school; however, a school district could establish a local requirement.
“The state mask mandate is being lifted. What happens next will be at a local level,” Riley said.
Masks will still be required on school buses because COVID-19 safety measures for transportation falls under a federal guideline.
The Department of Early Education and Care will also lift the mask requirements currently in place for all licensed child care providers effective Feb. 28, and allow programs to develop policies specific to the children they serve. The Department of Early Education and Care will release additional guidance for programs next week, officials said.
Originally imposed in August, the mandate has been extended three times and the department has generally announced the extensions the week before the expiration date.
The most recent data from DESE shows just 10,068 students tested positive for COVID-19, which is 1.09% of all students learning in person.
Officials said 1,918 teachers and staff also tested positive for COVID-19, which is 1.37% of all teachers in the state.
Several other states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, have rescinded their school mask requirements in recent days.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is urging officials against dropping mask mandates in schools.