Montco's Guidance For Reopening Schools Includes Mask Mandate

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — Montgomery County officials on Friday rolled out recommendations for keeping students and staff safe and healthy when they return to school this fall.

Among recommendations is a plan to identify and protect high-risk students and staff, establish a "pandemic team" or "pandemic coordinator" role and step up cleaning and sanitizing.

Per the guidelines, everyone in a school building, including students and teachers, will also be required social distancing for everyone in a school and requiring masks when distance can't be maintained.

The county does offer an exception to the mask policy for athletes "actively engaged in workouts and competitions that prevent wearing of face coverings," but masks will still be required for players and coaches on the sidelines, in dugouts and whenever social distancing is not possible.

The list of recommendations also discourages non-essential travel and large group activities like field trips and extracurricular activities.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, said in recent news conferences that her goal is to reopen schools this fall.

In reaching this goal, Arkoosh has implored the community to comply with social distancing, wear masks when in public and cooperate with contact tracers.

In a prepared statement Friday, the commissioner reiterated her goal, saying she has worked with school superintendents to create a framework for students and staff upon returning.

“Since the first coronavirus cases were reported in Montgomery County, we have been on nearly weekly calls with our school superintendents providing critical information on the pandemic and working collaboratively on guidance for opening schools,” Arkoosh said in a statement. “Our primary goal is to support a school environment that is as safe as possible for the students, faculty, and staff while providing much needed in-person education.”

The county's complete guidance for reopening schools can be seen online.