Baltimore City Public Schools to make face masks optional on March 14

THE 50’S ARE BACK FOR THE REMAINDER OF NEXT WEEK. JENNIFER: THANK YOU. AS WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING ALL MORNING, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN MARYLAND HAS RECINDED THE SKMA MANDATES FOR SCHOOLS NOW LEAVING , IT UP TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS. JOINING US LIVE THIS MORNING TO BREAK DOWN THE DEICISON IS ANNETTE ANDERSON WITH JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSI.TY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. ANNEE:TT THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. JENNIFER: WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON ALL OF THIS? ANNETTE: I THINK THERE ARE SOME REASONS RFO OPTIMISM IN THIS DECISION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE POSITIVITY CASE RATES ARE DOWN, HOSPITALIZATIONS AREES ARE DOWN, HOSPITALIZATIONS DOWN IN THE VACCINE NUMBERS ARE AT THEIR PEAK. WE KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF POSITIVE TRENDING INFORMATION GOING INTO TSHI DECISION-MAKING BUT THERE IS STILL A BIG CHALLENGE AND SOME QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN. WE DO NOT KNOW THE EFFECTS OF LONG COVIDN I CHILDREN, THE EFFECTS OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF ALL THE MASTS CEOM OFF, -- ALL THE MASKS COME OFF, SO THERE IS A BIG QUESTION MARK WITH GIVING DISTRICTS LOCAL CONTROL. JENNIF:ER VACCINATION RATES AMONG KIDS HAVE BEENOW L BUT THE SYMPTOMS HAVE NOT BEEN SEVERE IN KIDS FOR THE MOST PART AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN ADULTS. IS THAT PLAYING A ROLE? ANNETTE: THERE IS SOME EVIDENCE THAT CHILDREN HAVE NOT GOTTEN AS SICK AS ADULTS AND CHILDREN ARE NOT EMITTING ANYS MA AEROSOLS AS ADULTS. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE CONFIRMATION. THERE ARE SOME STUDIES BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH. JENNIF:ER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND IT WILL BE OPTIONAL FOR KIDS AND STAFF, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY DECIDE WHAT TO DO. WHAT ABOUT PURE PRESSURE WHEN IT COMES TO WEARING OR NOT WEARING A MASK? ANNEE:TT A LOT OF PARENTS OUT CONCERNED ABOUT THE BULLYING. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WATCH. PARENTS NEED TO YPA ATTENTION TO WHETHER OR NOT THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAYING THEY ARE BULLIED BECAUSE OF THE DECISION AROUND MASKING OR UNMASKING. DEPENDING ON HOW SCHOOL FRIENDS LOOK, WE WILL SEE SOME CASE NUMBERS RISING AND WE SHOULD BE AWE AROF THAT. SCHOOL LEADERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF APPROACHES TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL COMFORTABLE TO MAKE THE INDIVIDUAL CHOICE TO MASK OR UNMASK. JENNIFER: IT HAS BECOME AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE. PEOPLE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THE SKMA ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES. ANNETTE: THERE ARE SEOM PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN GETTING ORGANIZED AROUND THE UNMASKING AND SOME PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WHO WANT TO CONTINUE MASKING. ON ALL SIDES, THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST. JENNIF

Baltimore City Public Schools will make face masks optional at schools beginning on March 14, the district announced Wednesday.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||Masks will be optional for central office staff and visitors beginning March 7.Video above: Mask mandates in Maryland schools rescinded, what's next?The district cited the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that no longer recommends universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in areas with low to medium COVID-19 community transmission levels. The district said the city's COVID-19 levels are low."Our school system and community have stepped forward in a huge way to reduce the spread of the pandemic," district CEO Sonja Brookins Santelises said in a statement. "The data and guidance from the CDC are clear and unmistakable evidence. We have followed the advice of health experts, including the Baltimore City Health Department, implemented the proper precautions, and stayed vigilant through the different surges."The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners also supports optional masking."The board's top priority is to support the ability of our families to choose what is best for their students. It is a responsibility we take seriously," board Chairwoman Johnette Richardson said in a statement. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, City Schools has followed the science and best health guidance. The board remains fully confident in the system's ability to keep our students and staff safe."While masks will be optional generally, they will still be required in two cases: For close contacts for 10 days after exposure and those recovering from COVID-19 for 10 days from the start of isolation. The district will continue many of its other COVID-19 safeguards including:Masks will still be provided to any student or employee that requests them Weekly testing for students and school staff All staff must be vaccinated unless they have a medical or religious exemption Test-to-Stay quarantines for students or staff that test positive after an initial pooled test at elementary/middle schools Continued use of high-quality air filters or air purifiers Preventative cleaning measures and the use of hand sanitizerHere are face mask policies at Baltimore-area school districts:Anne Arundel County: Masks optional since 2/18Baltimore City: Masks optional starting 3/14Baltimore County: Masks optional since 3/1Carroll County: Masks optional immediately after 2/22 voteCecil County: Masks optional immediately after 2/22 voteHarford County: Masks optional since 3/1Howard County: Masks optional since 3/1

BALTIMORE —

Baltimore City Public Schools will make face masks optional at schools beginning on March 14, the district announced Wednesday.

|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||

Masks will be optional for central office staff and visitors beginning March 7.

Video above: Mask mandates in Maryland schools rescinded, what's next?

The district cited the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that no longer recommends universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in areas with low to medium COVID-19 community transmission levels. The district said the city's COVID-19 levels are low.

"Our school system and community have stepped forward in a huge way to reduce the spread of the pandemic," district CEO Sonja Brookins Santelises said in a statement. "The data and guidance from the CDC are clear and unmistakable evidence. We have followed the advice of health experts, including the Baltimore City Health Department, implemented the proper precautions, and stayed vigilant through the different surges."

The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners also supports optional masking.

"The board's top priority is to support the ability of our families to choose what is best for their students. It is a responsibility we take seriously," board Chairwoman Johnette Richardson said in a statement. "Since the beginning of the pandemic, City Schools has followed the science and best health guidance. The board remains fully confident in the system's ability to keep our students and staff safe."

While masks will be optional generally, they will still be required in two cases: For close contacts for 10 days after exposure and those recovering from COVID-19 for 10 days from the start of isolation.

The district will continue many of its other COVID-19 safeguards including:

Masks will still be provided to any student or employee that requests them
Weekly testing for students and school staff
All staff must be vaccinated unless they have a medical or religious exemption
Test-to-Stay quarantines for students or staff that test positive after an initial pooled test at elementary/middle schools
Continued use of high-quality air filters or air purifiers
Preventative cleaning measures and the use of hand sanitizer

Here are face mask policies at Baltimore-area school districts: