Fall River Public Schools to likely remove mask mandate next month

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley announced Wednesday the statewide mask requirement for K-12 schools will be lifted on February 28. Fall River Schools discussed their mask policy on Monday evening.

According to the DESE, the decision was made in consultation with infectious disease physicians, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and other medical experts.

With the lifting of the statewide mask requirement, masking will be a community choice in schools across the Commonwealth, regardless of vaccination rates within a school which previously had to be 80 percent.

At Monday’s School Committee meeting, Maria Pontes issued her Superintendent Report and in doing so stated that data is trending in the right direction with virus cases decreasing.

The Committee and Pontes, with previous input from Director of Health and Human Services Tess Curran, discussed the issue. Due to a possible increase in cases after school vacation that has occurred in the past, it was determined the mask mandate will stay in place until March 14th barring a major spike.

The Committee voted to rescind the mask mandate next month, minus those who have recently tested positive, by a unanimous vote.

DESE says that their data about the prevalence of COVID-19 in schools, in addition to their testing program, illustrates that schools are safe environments for teaching and learning regardless of mask wearing.

Students will still have the option to wear masks. Masks also will continue to be required on all school buses, per federal order.

The Diocese of Fall River Catholic schools announced Thursday they will no longer require masks in schools with the exception of individuals who have tested positive and are returning to school for days 6-10 of their Covid recovery. Individuals still have the option of wearing them.