ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Anne Arundel County Public Schools on Wednesday became the latest system to announce mask mandates this upcoming academic year.
All K-12 schools in the county will require students, teachers, staff, and visitors to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
The system cites the Delta variant which spreads more quickly than others.
Children 11 and younger are also not yet eligible for a vaccine, and a significant number of those 12 and older still aren't vaccinated.
For now masks will not be required outdoors on school property, although it's recommended for those who are not vaccinated.
The school system also announced a preventative strategy which calls for random testing.
Schools are being advised to choose one of three screening systems.
- Testing of staff and/or students for participation in extracurricular activities (sports, performing arts, club, academic)
- Testing all staff and/or students (all grades or grade specific) periodically (all elementary students weekly)
- Testing a sample of staff and/or students periodically (10% of all students weekly)
Baltimore, Howard, Charles, Montgomery, and Prince George's Counties have already implemented similar mandates.
