Austin ISD Will Still Require Masks Despite CDC Recommendations

Austin TX

14 May, 2021

11:10 AM

Description

AUSTIN, TX — Austin ISD will still require students and staff to wear masks for the rest of the 2020-21 school year despite the Centers of Disease Control's latest guidelines. The school district announced Friday it will continue its mask policy for the rest of the school year and during its graduation ceremonies out of concern that many students are not yet fully vaccinated. On Thursday, the CDC announced fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask or physically distance themselves outdoors or indoors in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. Since we have no way to verify vaccination statuses and, until this week, most of our students were not yet eligible to be vaccinated, Austin ISD will continue to require masking through the rest of the school year and with graduation ceremonies.— Austin ISD (@AustinISD) May 14, 2021 "Since we have no way to verify vaccination statuses and, until this week, most of our students were not yet eligible to be vaccinated, Austin ISD will continue to require masking through the rest of the school year and with graduation ceremonies," officials said. The school district said it will evaluate the CDC's new guidance and how that might impact its policies for summer session and the 2021-2022 school year. On Wednesday, the district announced it had relaxed its policies for students wearing masks outdoors and will allow students to roam outdoors without a mask, even through recess, as long as they follow a safe social distance. MORE ON THAT STORY: Austin ISD Students No Longer Need To Wear Masks Outdoors Austin ISD will host vaccination clinics at several schools across the area throughout the weekend. The clinics do not require an appointment and are available for students, staff and family members who are 16 years old or older. For more information, visit www.austinisd.org.