Masks Strongly Recommended In Lower Merion Schools

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Masks are now strongly recommended in the Lower Merion Township School District.

The district last week said mask requirements would go into effect Friday, May 20.

But shortly after announcing the requirement, the district shifted to a "strongly recommended" policy on masks in schools and on buses.

This move is based on the CDC's rating Montgomery County as "high" in its COVID-19 community level system.

Superintendent Khalid Mumin said CDC and Montgomery County Office of Public Health guidance strongly recommends, but does not require, indoor masking when the community is in the high level.

"Last night's move to 'high' status for Montgomery County was not necessarily surprising," Mumin said. "If you look at our District COVID dashboard, you will see that we have been experiencing a high number of cases among our students and staff over the past few weeks. We have also had about two dozen classes, teams, student organizations and other core groups in 'outbreak' status, as well as COVID-related staffing challenges, in the past two weeks."

According to the dashboard, the week of May 15 saw 196 student cases and 36 staff cases. The previous week saw 271 student cases and 39 staff cases.

The district said most of those cases were not severe, but did affect school and activity attendance.

"As we head into the final weeks of school, with so many culminating activities that the students and staff have been working toward and looking forward to, it makes sense to do what we can to ensure maximum participation and limit the number of students and staff who have to stay home due to required quarantines and isolation," the district said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the district required masking in schools and on buses.