Abington School District Announces Reinstatement Of Mandatory Masking

ABINGTON, PA — Abington students and staff members will once again have to wear face masks while inside school buildings and on district transportation after the district reinstituted mandatory masking following an announcement that Montgomery County was once again in the "high" community level for COVID-19 transmission.

Abington School District administrators announced the move on Friday, saying face coverings would be universally mandated beginning next Monday.

"The level designation is updated on a weekly basis, which means masking requirements can change weekly as well," reads a message from Superintendent Jeffrey Fecher and Director of Student Services Judy Bomze. "If there is a change at the end of next week, we will communicate that information to families."

The announcement came after federal health officials placed Montgomery County back into the "high" COVID-19 community level because of rising infection rates.

As of Friday, Montgomery County as well as neighboring Bucks, Delaware and Chester Counties were all now in the "high" level, while Philadelphia County remains in the "medium" category.

Abington's decision came after two other Montgomery County school districts — Cheltenham and Lower Merion — reinstated a mask mandate for their students and staff.