Masks like these are no longer mandatory in Marietta City Schools. | File Photo
Masks like these are no longer mandatory in Marietta City Schools. | File Photo
Masks are now optional at Marietta City Schools in light of declining COVID cases, according to CBS46.
The mask requirement was lifted Oct. 16, coinciding with a reduction since September in Cobb County's COVID-19 positivity rate for school-aged children, CBS46 reports.
“On a personal level, I understand that some of you will read this email and be frustrated, or even angered, by this transition in our protocols, while others will be delighted and relieved,” Superintendent Grant Rivera said in a letter sent to families in the school district. “I ask for your continued grace with me and with each other. Nothing about a pandemic is static – our district’s response will continue to evolve as both this virus and the data evolve.’’
In a report by WSBTV, Rivera said the decision to make masks optional is just one step in attempting to re-establish a sense of normalcy as cases decline in the area.
Marietta was one of the first school districts in Georgia to implement the "test-and-stay" model that allowed students to return to school, CBS46 states. According to WSBTV, the mask-optional policy applies to both classrooms and buses, as well as the school’s upcoming Homecoming dance.
Marietta City Schools has reported at least 327 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the school year, WSBTV said.
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