Mask Mandate To Be Lifted Next Week At SoWashCo Schools

WOODBURY, MN — Masks will no longer be required in South Washington County Schools starting Feb. 23.

Officials announced they will drop the districtwide mask mandate next week after a significant drop in coronavirus cases.

“Face coverings will be strongly recommended, but no longer required” for students, visitors and staff, officials said.

The South Washington County Schools district started the 2021-22 school year with a mask mandate in place at its elementary and middle schools. Officials expanded the mandate to the district’s high schools in January after cases surged among staff and students at the start of 2022.

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The district lifted the mask mandate for high schools on Feb. 2, but left it in place at elementary and middle schools.

Officials are set to lift all mask mandates Feb. 23, with cases dropping, staff levels improving and COVID-19 vaccines widely available.

Weekly case totals in the district have dropped significantly since peaking around the start of 2022. Officials reported almost 600 new cases from Dec. 17 to Jan. 6, a period that included winter break.

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SoWashCo schools reported 695 new cases from Jan. 7-13, 573 cases the following week and 356 cases from Jan. 21-27, the district's COVID-19 data dashboard shows. Officials reported 101 new cases Feb. 4-10, according to the dashboard.

Officials said “balancing the mental health and social-emotional well-being of our students” also led them to lift the mask mandate for all SoWashCo schools.

Students and staff must continue to wear masks on buses, officials said. Masks are also required for students, staff and visitors in pre-k, preschool and early childhood family education programs.

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Anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus must isolate at home for five days and wear a mask at school for the next five days, according to recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Those who cannot wear a mask for the second five-day period will not be allowed back in class until the full 10-day period has expired.

Students will be required to quarantine for five days if there is a positive case in their household unless they are fully vaccinated or had COVID-19 in the past 90 days, the CDC guidelines state.

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South Washington County Schools officials are urging parents to keep their children home if they are sick and to get them tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms related to the coronavirus.

"The change to masking in K-12 schools does not remove your responsibility as a parent or guardian," district officials said. "If your child is sick, please keep them home."