Austin School Board approves measure loosening masking requirements for COVID-19 at Monday meeting

The Austin School Board approved a measure at their regular monthly meeting Monday that would loosen masking requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Superintendent Dr. Joey Page stated in a news release that the new guidelines are based on CDC recommendations. Now that Austin is listed as a county with medium COVID risk, Page stated that the CDC no longer recommends universal indoor mask-wearing in K-12 schools and early education settings in areas with a low or medium COVID-19 community level.  

To determine community risk, the CDC looks at the case count as well as hospitalizations and hospital beds available.  Dr. Page stated that people may choose to wear a mask at any time, and he added that people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.