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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Face coverings now optional in all Marion County public schools

Face coverings are now optional in all Marion County public schools.

According to a Marion County Public Schools press release, declining COVID-19 case numbers have now made face coverings optional for students, staff members, campus visitors, and volunteers in all county-wide public schools.

These declining numbers meet the criteria that was detailed in the Marion County School Board’s face covering resolution that went into effect on August 17. Recently, the local positivity rate declined to the ‘substantial’ level or lower, the rate of new cases per 100,000 people declined to the ‘substantial’ level or lower, and both of these numbers have held steady for at least two weeks.

Visitors and volunteers will be welcomed back to school campuses, and elementary schools will soon be able to schedule campus events that previously were not allowed. Face coverings can still be worn by anyone on Marion County public school property.

According to MCPS, they will continue to monitor COVID-19 data and will meet regularly with the Florida Department of Health for the latest pandemic updates.

To continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the district will regularly disinfect hi-touch surfaces, stress the importance of hand washing and use of hand sanitizer, utilize ultraviolet lighting in air handling systems, and practice safe social distancing when possible.

For more information, visit the Marion County Public Schools and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites.