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Masks will no longer be required in San Mateo County schools but will be strongly recommended, as the county has aligned itself with the state’s guidance, according to a San Mateo County Office of Education news release.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will end masking requirements for children in K-12 or childcare settings on March 11, the release said.
As of March 12, CDPH will shift its guidance to a strong recommendation that students, teachers, and others continue to mask while indoors in school settings. San Mateo County Health has aligned itself with the CDPH guidance and confirmed that once the statewide requirement ends, masks will be strongly recommended in all public and private schools in the county.
According to research cited by CDPH, “nationally during the Delta surge in July and August 2021, jurisdictions without mask requirements in schools experienced larger increases in pediatric case rates, and school outbreaks were 3.5 times more likely in areas without school mask requirements.”
“I trust our school communities will also continue to prioritize teaching and learning despite the shifting protocols,” San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee said in a statement. “We’re already looking ahead and planning for May graduations where we can truly celebrate the resilience of our young people and the educators who have supported them throughout this pandemic.”
