Pleasanton Schools Drop Outdoor Class Mask Requirements

PLEASANTON, CA — The Pleasanton Unified School District has lifted its outdoor masking requirements, including for outdoor physical education and team sports, effective Monday. All individuals will still be required to wear masks inside district facilities, regardless of vaccination status.

The district said in an email that the shift comes in response to increased vaccination rates – approximately 83% of Pleasanton residents are fully vaccinated, according to the most recent data – and less stringent quarantine protocols from the California Department of Health that shortens isolation times for asymptomatic positive COVID-19 tests.

The district removed its outdoor mask mandate at high schools prior to the omicron surge, but noted that it still encourages outdoor mask wearing, especially in crowded outdoor settings. While overall case numbers in Pleasanton are far below what they were a month ago, the case rate has actually increased.

Students who return to school early after quarantine must still wear masks, even indoors.

On Monday, New Jersey’s Democratic governor, who instituted some of the country’s most stringent pandemic measures, announced that the state will no longer require students and school employees to wear masks, effective the first week of March.