Wellesley Issues Mask Mandate For Schools & Municipal Buildings

WELLESLEY, MA — Due to a recent rise in active cases of COVID-19, Wellesley has issued an emergency order requiring all Wellesley Public Schools students and staff to wear masks indoors throughout the month of September, and requiring everyone 5 and up to wear a mask when inside any municipal building or office.

The Board of Health, Select Board, and Wellesley School Committee jointly issued the emergency order requiring the indoor mask mandate Friday.

The school mask mandate requirement went into effect on August 26 in preparation for the start of the 2021-2022 school year on September 1. WPS will revisit this masking requirement in early October to reassess if it is still needed.

The order for municipal buildings will be effective starting Wednesday, September 1, and will remain in effect until it is rescinded by both Boards.

Health and Town officials will be periodically reviewing Town COVID-19 data to help determine when the emergency order can be removed.

The School Committee and administration have also prepared a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list that explains the COVID-19 mitigation strategies and practices the district will follow as WPS returns to more normal operations this year.

More details are available on the Wellesley Public Schools website.