Boston Officials Could Instill Mask Mandate For Schools: Reports

BOSTON, MA — School and city officials in Boston are considering resurrecting a temporary mask mandate when students come back from winter break in response to a recent spike in COVID-19 numbers, according to published reports.

Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper said officials will meet with Boston's Public Health Commission to "discuss any possible changes to our COVID protocols, such as a temporary masking mandate for the first two weeks of school after the break," in a letter to parents, CBS reported.

Skipper expects a decision by the end of the week, noting it would ensure officials are "using the most up-to-date data when making any decisions," according to the outlet.

"Based on last year's experience with a significant surge in COVID and its impact on staffing shortages and student absences, we know this temporary policy change may help mitigate any concerns as we return from winter break," Skipper wrote in her letter, the outlet reported.

School officials asked families adhere to precautions, and said that they could instill the masking policy for a couple of weeks after the return from break, NBC reported.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's data shows COVID-19 infections are up by seven percent and COVID-19-related deaths up by 15 percent, according to CBS.

A surge in COVID after the winter break last January saw 1,000 daily absences among teachers and staff in the city, CBS reported.