Schools
Mask Mandate Ends At SoWashCo K-12 Schools
Masks are still required on buses and in the district's early childhood programming, as vaccines aren't available to children under 5.
WOODBURY, MN — A districtwide mask mandate for students, staff and visitors is no longer in place within South Washington County Schools.
Officials lifted the mandate Wednesday after a significant recent drop in coronavirus cases, but they are “strongly” recommending students and staff continue to wear masks.
The district started the 2021-22 school year with a mask mandate in place at its elementary and middle schools. Officials expanded that mandate to the high schools in January after cases surged among staff and students to start 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 for three more weeks.
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As of Wednesday, masks are only required on district transportation and within SoWashCo’s early childhood programming, as vaccines aren’t available to children under 5, officials said.
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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."
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.
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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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