As cities and towns drop their mask mandates, could schools be next?

WORCESTER, Mass. — Last night, the Worcester Board of Health voted to end its mask mandate. Several other cities and towns are doing the same as COVID cases drop. Saugus and Canton have also followed suit. But for kids in Massachusetts schools, masking up is still required.

However, other states are dropping the mandate shortly. Just yesterday, governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Oregon, have announced plans to lift mask requirements in schools by the end of February or sometime in March. They all cited the decline in COVID cases and a move toward normalcy for the kids.

In Massachusetts, the mask mandate was imposed in August and was extended three times. Governor Charlie Baker was asked if the state was considering dropping the mask mandate anytime soon.

“Well, obviously every state is different concerning where they are in covid and these issues generally,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “I do think the dates that both Delaware and New Jersey are talking about a pretty consistent with that February 28 day.

Massachusetts’s school mask mandate is set to expire on February 28. Governor Baker talked about how the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education makes its decision on mask-wearing.

STORY: Worcester Board of Health votes to rescind mask mandate

“But the way they’ve dealt with that requirement over the past two years has been to put a marker out there. Then look at where we are and what’s going on by the time we get to whatever that marker is and then make a decision which would, by the way, be pretty consistent with what some of the other states have been talking about,” said Governor Baker.

As it stands, the mask requirements in school are set to expire at the end of the month. Dese usually announces the extensions the week before. Meantime there are other states, like Texas and Florida, that have banned mask-wearing in schools.

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