BALTIMORE — Baltimore City Public Schools on Wednesday said they would begin requiring all staff and high school student athletes to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The system had previously only required school based staff to get vaccinated.
Currently 85 percent of city teachers and 92 percent of principals have been vaccinated.
City School officials say they're working with the workers unions to finalize details on how the new policy will be implemented.
As for student athletes wishing to play sports in the winter and spring, they will have to be fully vaccinated by November 1.
Those athletes not vaccinated who come in close contact with someone COVID-positive, will have to quarantine for 10 days. Meanwhile, those who are vaccinated will not have to quarantine unless they feel symptoms.
In cases where multiple athletes have to quarantine, there is a chance some games could be forfeited.
For now, fall sports athletes are exempt since the season is already underway, although they too are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
As of September 1, the Maryland Health Department reports only one city public school with outbreak-associated cases, that being Lillie May Jackson Charter Public School, with 13 cases.
