Salem Schools 'Encouraging' Masks Indoors, But Declines New Mandate

SALEM, MA — As COVID-19 cases once again rise across Salem and the state, school officials are encouraging — but not mandating — that students and staff consider masking while indoor school buildings and at larger end-of-year school events.

Superintendent Steve Zrike said during his Facebook Live session on Wednesday that efforts are being made to move as many larger school events outdoors as much as possible at the end of the academic year, but that the district's Health Advisory Board did not recommend reimposing a universal indoor mask mandate at this time.

"They suggested that we remain vigilant," Zrike said of Tuesday's meeting with the advisory board. "But they felt that at this point we needed to learn to live with the virus and be strategic about when we ask people to mask."

Zrike suggested that could be at larger indoor events such as school awards ceremonies, banquets or graduations. He said the district will be issuing guidance later this week on those events and said they will be held outside where possible.

"We have seen a surge in the last two weeks," he allowed. "We have many staff out. So you should not be surprised if your child has a substitute. We have many school leaders out as well."

Zrike said the School Committee would decide on any renewed universal mask mandate in schools and acknowledged to those calling for one that "everyone is navigating this in their own way."

"It is certainly more challenging for folks in high-risk communities," he said.

The Salem Board of Health on Tuesday issued an advisory asking city residents and visitors to consider masking up when inside businesses, as well as making sure they are up to date on all vaccinations and booster shots.

Public health officials across Massachusetts on Thursday asked Gov. Charlie Baker to reinstate mask mandates in public schools and on public transportation amid increasing COVID-19 case numbers.

The coalition of health officials in Massachusetts also asked the Department of Public Health to issue an "immediate advisory" to residents — recommending face masks in public spaces and large gatherings again while a new surge continues to infect more and more people.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)