Religious Exemption For Vaccine Now Permitted For MOCO Athletes

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Student athletes in Montgomery County Public Schools will now be able to apply for a religious exemption to the COVID-19 mandate that was put in place at the beginning of the academic year.

"In alignment with CDC guidance, MCPS is now accepting requests for religious exemptions because of the decreasing COVID-19 community transmission rate, coupled with Montgomery County’s high vaccination rate," the district's athletic department wrote in a letter to families Friday.

Applications are open for the spring 2022 season. The form must be signed by a parent, stating they object to their child getting the vaccine.

Spectators will be allowed at events up to 50 percent of the original capacity, the letter said. For swimming and diving, each athlete will be allowed two guests if the facility hosting the event allows it. There are no capacity limits for outdoor sports, the letter said.

The first day of the spring sports season will be March 1.