Updates to Mask Mandates in MD Schools

Yesterday evening the Anne Arundel county school board voted unanimously to lift its mask mandate. Beginning Friday, wearing facial coverings in Anne Arundel Public Schools will be optional. 

According to AAPS superintendent George Arlotto, the county has an 80.1% vaccination rate and the case rate has been below 20 for the past week. 

Anne Arundel has been the first county in Maryland to remove the mask mandate in its schools. After the decision was released Wednesday evening, Governor Larry Hogan tweeted that he is “pleased to see the Anne Arundel County School Board voted unanimously today to lift their school mask policy.” 

Montgomery County plans to let the mask mandate expire as planned on February 21st, but masks will still be required in public school facilities. The MoCo Board of Education plans to discuss the possibility of revoking the school mask mandate at their next meeting on February 24th. 

MCPS Chief of Staff James D’Andrea says that “no decisions have been made just yet regarding changes to the mask requirement in all MCPS facilities.” 

We will have to wait and see what MCPS decides at their meeting next Thursday, but for now, keep wearing those masks, Bengals.