Northfield Public Schools Reverses Mask Mandate

NORTHFIELD, MN — Northfield Public Schools announced that beginning on Monday, wearing a mask will be "recommended but optional."

The Board of Education unanimously voted to reverse the district's mask mandate at its most recent meeting, according to the district's website.

Children must still wear a mask on the bus and inside Northfield Community Education Center, the district said.

The district gave several reasons behind its decision:

• Rates of the omicron variant are once again below five percent in the district
• Vaccines are available for people ages five and older
• Higher-quality masks have been made available to residents
• Continued access to COVID-19 testing

The district said that if the rate of COVID-19 goes above five percent it will consider reinstating the mask mandate.

More information is available here.