All Catholic Schools To Become Mask Optional, Including Chicago

CHICAGO — All Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago will become mask optional starting Monday, Feb. 28, including schools in the City of Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park.

The mask requirement is being lifted based on low infection rates and guidance from medical advisors, Catholic Schools Supt. Greg Richmond told parents in a letter. The decision coincides with the City of Chicago lifting its indoor mandate.

Earlier this month, the archdiocese lifted the mask mandate in some suburban Cook County and Lake County schools. In that time, Richmond said, COVID-19 infections continued to plummet in schools that required masks and ones that did not.

“We have not had a whole class quarantined in any school in our system at any time in February,” the superintendent said. “Only about a tenth of our schools have even had a single case right now, and the overwhelming majority have zero cases.”

All other COVID-19 protocols will remain in place. Students coming out of isolation and quarantine must wear a mask on days 6 through 10.

“In addition, we will continue monitoring cases in our schools closely,” Richmond said.

Any significant increases in positive cases in a classroom or the entire school may mean a temporary return of masks until the numbers go down.

Teachers, staff and students who wish to continue wearing a mask are encouraged to wear an N95 mask. The Archdiocese of Chicago encourages everyone age 5 and over to get vaccinated and boosted.