Barrington Public Schools Lifting Mask Mandate March 7

BARRINGTON, RI — Barrington school officials will end the district's mask mandate for students and staff beginning, March 7.

The district's plan uses community risk level data from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine when other restrictions can be lifted and if a mask mandate would need to be re-implemented if another COVID-19 surge were to happen.

According to CDC data, Barrington is currently a "moderate" risk or "yellow" community for COVID-19 spread. Under this category, masks are recommended but not required, except for on school buses, because of Gov. Dan McKee's executive order.

The yellow category also means overnight field trips for high school students can be considered in places without high transmission rates. Day trips are also allowed for all grade levels, but travel insurance is required, and the district is not responsible for refunding.

The state of the pandemic at Barrington Public Schools also means it will be OK for students in grades 6-12 to use the cafeteria with social distancing. This will be revisited for younger grades during the 2022-23 school year, school officials said.

If COVID-19 rates improve, cafeteria use can return without distancing.

"Our ultimate goal is to allow students to learn in person to the greatest extent possible while reducing restrictions and maintaining the safety and health of students and staff," school officials said in a statement.

See more about the metrics Barrington Public Schools will use for COVID-19 policies.