School Masks, RI State Of Emergency Extended Through End Of Year

PROVIDENCE, RI — The requirement that masks be worn in Rhode Island schools was again extended this week. Gov. Dan McKee signed two executive orders Friday to keep the policy, along with the ongoing state of emergency, in place into the new year.

When he extended both orders in October, McKee said the state will eventually see a "slow exit" from the state of emergency, based on data including vaccination rates and case numbers. Both the school mask requirement and state of emergency will now remain in place through Jan. 8.

The governor announced the mask policy in August, ahead of the reopening of in-person school.

The state of emergency has been in effect throughout the pandemic in Rhode Island, first declared by then-Gov. Gina Raimondo on March 9, 2020. At that time, few cases had been reported in the state, and the move was made to allow the governor greater flexibility in responding to the ever-changing situation.

"We need to take action," Raimondo said at the time. "I want every tool at my disposal."