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Date: 4/5/2022
SPRINGFIELD – After continuing a mask mandate in schools until the end of March, the Springfield School Committee approved a removal of the mandate in favor of a mask-optional approach during their March 31 meeting.
Health and Human Services Director Helen Caulton-Harris and Nursing Director Jeannie Clancy showcased a presentation featuring updated COVID-19 data and the city’s recommendation to remove the mask mandate. While January featured 9,482 positive cases across the city, the number decreased to 1,484 positive cases in February and 283 positive cases in March.
“We have seen a downward trajectory as far as our cases are concerned … We are very happy with the work that’s being done,” said Caulton-Harris. She stressed that the city is “confident and comfortable” moving forward with a new mask-optional approach.
Caulton-Harris shared that the city will continue to meet and monitor COVID-19 cases over the coming weeks. She also emphasized that students and staff can continue to wear masks if they choose to.
In her presentation, Clancy described the new rules of the recommended mask-optional decision. Masks will be optional in schools beside the health offices, while students who contract COVID-19 are recommended to return after five days of quarantining.
Clancy said the school department still strongly recommends masks for unvaccinated and immunocompromise/high risk individuals.
Mitigation strategies, like social distancing, enforcing sanitation, COVID-19 testing, quarantining and vaccine advocacy, will still be stressed within schools, according to Clancy. “We’re still encouraging vaccination for everyone,” said Clancy.
Mayor Domenic Sarno expressed pride with the city’s progress combatting COVID-19. “The mitigation stuff we’ve done, the numbers have gone down tremendously…We’re going to stay vigilante, but because of our efforts now, we have this option,” said Sarno.
The School Committee appealed the mask mandate and approved the mask-optional approach in two unanimous votes. The removal of the mask mandate goes into effect at schools on April 4.