Face Masks No Longer Required In HCPSS Buildings Starting March 1

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Starting March 1, wearing facemasks will be optional in Howard County Public School System buildings. The Howard County Board of Education voted Thursday to lift the universal indoor mask mandate based off the state education department's off-ramp option for districts to lift mask requirements if they meet certain requirements.

“It is encouraging that nearly all metrics that our health department has used to inform COVID-related decisions have seen a decline for the first time in these last three months and I commend HCPSS students, staff and community for our collective efforts to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in our community,” HCPSS Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano said. “While masks will no longer be required in schools, every student and staff member should feel encouraged and supported to make the decision they feel most comfortable with. We will remind students and staff to practice civility and respect the choices of others when it comes to masking, and I seek the community’s support and collaboration in reinforcing and modeling this behavior for our children. System and school leaders will work to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff and students as we make this transition.”

Schools and offices will continue to have masks available as needed. The federal requirement for masks on public transportation remains unchanged so anyone on a school bus will still be required to wear a mask.

“I am pleased that the board of education has voted to support the use of this ‘off-ramp.’ While the superintendent had noted his intention to lift the mandate following the Maryland General Assembly committee’s vote on Friday, Feb. 25, we wanted to provide our community additional notice regarding this change,” Vicky Cutroneo, board of education chair, said. “As we have seen a decline in cases and transmission in our county, and the optimistic community message from the health department this week regarding declining metrics, I believe this is the right time to make masks optional.”