RI Governor To Address School Mask Mandate: How To Watch

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is expected to address an ongoing controversy Wednesday: whether to continue universal mask requirements in schools. The governor will be joined by state health and education leaders at this week's COVID-19 new conference.

The conference will be held at the State House at 1:30 p.m. As always, the news conference will be live-streamed on the governor's official Facebook page.

The governor first issued the executive order in August, ahead of the start of the school year. Under the policy, all students and staff must wear masks while in schools, regardless of vaccination status. The governor has extended the order every month since then, most recently on Feb. 3. It is now set to expire March 4.

A spokesperson for the governor said McKee "met with key education stakeholders and has had calls with neighboring state Governors regarding the school masking executive order."

On Tuesday, the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools issued a statement urging state leaders to "be guided by science and sound public health policy in making their decisions." The organization called for state leaders to create "clear, concrete metrics that guide when and how public health measures can be eased," rather than "decisions about public health based solely on a date on the calendar are not effective, nor based on science."