Masks Required In Baltimore County Public Schools As Of Tuesday

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Baltimore County Public Schools adopted a "universal masking" policy in the fall, which requires students and staff to wear masks indoors during the 2021–2022 school year.

On Tuesday, the school system announced it would be requiring face coverings in all schools, offices and buildings effective Tuesday, Aug. 10.

The measure came as Baltimore County reached "substantial transmission" of the coronavirus, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Coronavirus transmission levels are determined by new cases per 100,000 residents in the last seven days or the percentage of coronavirus tests that come back positive; the higher category determines the transmission level.

Here are the thresholds for coronavirus transmission levels, according to the CDC:

New cases per 100,000 in past seven days:

• Low: 0-9.99
• Moderate: 10-49.99
• Substantial: 50-99.99
• High: >100

Positivity rate:

• Low: <5
• Moderate: 5-7.99
• Substantial: 8-9.99
• High: >10

When Baltimore County Public Schools announced its new mask policy, effective Tuesday, Aug. 10, it said the decision was made by school system leaders in alignment with CDC guidelines and with "advice from medical experts at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, and scientific learning about the Delta variant."

In the last three weeks, Baltimore County's cumulative COVID-19 case rate has risen from 17.04 cases per 100,000 residents to 61.04 cases per 100,000 residents, according to BCPS.

"Baltimore County is now within the CDC's substantial transmission zone (50-99 cases per 100,000 residents)," the statement said.

CDC data as of Monday, Aug. 9, showed the new case rate was 68.17 per 100,000 over the last week in Baltimore County.

The BCPS masking policy may be modified if the rate at which coronavirus is spreading changes, BCPS leaders said.

"The CDC guidance really says masks in schools right now for all," BCPS Health Services Coordinator Deborah Somerville said at a recent school board meeting about the mask policy.

"We certainly will be revisiting the mandate," Somerville said. Lifting the mandate would be "fluid," dependent on trends and context.

"Probably the easiest number would be to look for that blue zone," Somerville said, stating the "blue zone" meant the county had up to 10 cases per 100,000 residents over a seven-day period and was in the low transmission category.

"Honestly the predictions are that we will in August hit that substantial transmission category," Somerville said. "When that happens, staff will be alerted and we'll be asking them to mask" before the school year begins.

On Tuesday, that happened — Baltimore County Public Schools is now requiring masks in schools.

In late July, BCPS announced it would be requiring students, staff and visitors starting in the fall; the school year begins Aug. 30.

The decision to order universal masking came after Baltimore County's coronavirus data showed that "COVID transmission has increased," BCPS Chief Accountability and Performance Management Officer Monique Wheatley-Phillip told school board members at the special Aug. 3 meeting.

In the week from July 30 to Aug. 6, which is the most recent available data, Baltimore County Public Schools reported 12 cases of the virus, including at four elementary schools, four high schools, two middle schools and two cases that were not school-based.

Here are the schools that had reported infections during the week ending Aug. 6:

• Catonsville High School
• Franklin Elementary School
• Martin Boulevard Elementary
• Oakleigh Elementary
• Dulaney High School
• Dundalk High School
• Patapsco High School for the Arts
• Woodlawn High School
• Dumbarton Middle School
• Pine Grove Middle

Masking is one element in a prevention strategy that has multiple layers which BCPS will be implementing in the fall.

"Although we're not doing strict physical distancing, we will be doing physical distancing to the maximum extent possible, so that's going to continue with careful work from staff in terms of the layout of the how we move students through the hallways" to "prevent inadvertent exposure," Somerville said.

Here are additional components in the strategy to keep people safe during the school year:

• Universal masking in schools
• Screening tests
• Contact tracing
• Daily cleaning

"Even of the eligible population in Baltimore County, less than 50 percent of our 18 and under appear to have been vaccinated based on our county level data," Somerville said Aug. 3.

The superintendent on Tuesday urged people to get vaccinated.

“While universal masking supports our overarching goal of keeping students and staff safe, vaccination is still the most effective action we can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” BCPS Superintendent Darryl Williams said in a statement. “We continue to urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated.”

The school system is hosting vaccination clinics at various high schools before the school year starts to help slow the spread of the virus.

"As we prepare to welcome students and staff back to school for in-person learning, universal masking is an important step to help maintain our community’s health and safety,” Williams said. “All of us are reminded that although the use of masks is just one layer of protection, it is a crucial one.”

See Also:

• 'Universal Masking' Expected For Students, Staff, Guests Of BCPS
• Where Are COVID-19 Vaccination Sites In Baltimore County