Masks Are Back: Mandate Continues At Maplewood Middle School

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Masking mandates will continue at Maplewood Middle School through at least this Thursday, said a letter from the school principal to district parents Thursday.

"This letter is to inform you that there has been an uptick in cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as an outbreak identified among all grades recently," said Dara Gronau, the principal, in a letter this past Thursday. "Please note that delivery of instruction will continue as normal; however, the Maplewood Department of Health is requiring a return to universal masking INDOORS AND ON THE BUS for all MMS students and staff through June23, 2022. We plan to return to mask optional indoors June 24, 2022."

A weekly case tracker for the schools notes that there were 18 cases in the district in each of the last two weeks.

Grona added, "The District is coordinating closely with public health officials and following Centers for Disease Control &Prevention (CDC), state, and local health department guidance in order to assure the health and safety of our community."

She added, "In addition, as a reminder, cleaning and disinfecting of the building (including exposed and frequently touched areas) is done daily. As of March 14, 2022 the District is no longer directing quarantine of school close contacts of thepositive individual."

She urged families to continue precautions, stay home when sick, and "consider wearing a mask while in school and in public settings."

On June 10, the district had announced that they would continue their mask mandate for PreK-3, whose students had not been vaccinated, through the end of the year.

Statewide Statistics, Mandates, And Vaccines

Last week, the state said there were 84 deaths statewide from COVID-19 that week.

Earlier this month, federal officials suggested a return to masks in indoor spaces in 13 counties, but did not include Essex County. Around that time, Trenton reinstated its mask mandate.

The CDC has now approved Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for kids 6 months and older, although they are not yet available in all areas.

Essex County has moved its vaccine and testing site to Livingston. Find out more here.

What do you think about the mandate in Maplewood? Comment below.