Back-to-school will mean back-to-masks for younger grades, unvaccinated

Add one more item to your back-to-school list for fall: masks.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Friday that is recommending masks for students in kindergarten through Grade 6, unvaccinated students in Grades 7 and above, and all unvaccinated school staff.

Vaccinated students may go without masks.

The new guidance comes as new COVID-19 cases rise in Massachusetts, although the state’s caseload is far lower than in states with low vaccination rates. Also of concern is the highly transmissible Delta Covid variant, which has infected even those with vaccinations.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Friday, citing new recommendations from the Centers from Disease Control, now recommends that fully vaccinated people wear masks indoors “if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.”

The DESE is requiring all districts and schools to be in-person, full-time, five days a week this fall.

Mask guidance:

• This fall, DESE and DPH strongly recommend that all students in kindergarten through grade 6 wear masks when indoors, except students who cannot do so due to medical conditions or behavioral needs. Masks are not necessary outdoors and may be removed while eating indoors.
• DESE and DPH also strongly recommend that unvaccinated staff in all grades, unvaccinated students in grades 7 and above, and unvaccinated visitors wear masks indoors, in alignment with the statewide advisory on masking.
• DESE and DPH recommend that schools allow vaccinated students to remain unmasked.
• Any individual at higher risk for severe disease from COVID or with a household member who is at high risk is encouraged to mask regardless of vaccination status consistent with the updated DPH Advisory on Face Coverings and Masks.
• Any child or family who prefers to mask at school should be supported in this choice.
• By federal public health order, all students and staff are required to wear masks on school buses at this time.
• All staff and students must wear masks while in school health offices. Additional guidance for school health professionals is forthcoming from DPH.

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