Mask Mandates 'Strongly Recommended' In RI Schools This Fall

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island state leaders called for all school districts to require mask-wearing in schools this fall, regardless of vaccine status. The latest guidance comes following the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention's latest recommendations, which encouraged universal mask-wearing in schools.

The governor, education commissioner and director of the Rhode Island Department of Health issued a joint statement Wednesday, saying the state will continue to follow the CDC's guidance for schools.

"We strongly recommend that school districts set a policy that requires masking in schools this fall regardless of vaccination status in direct correlation with CDC guidance," Gov. Dan McKee, Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and Dr. Nicole Alexnader-Scott said. "Over the course of the summer, we will continue to monitor the CDC’s guidance and update Rhode Island’s guidance as necessary."

State leaders went on to say that with the start of school just a few weeks away, "now is the time for eligible staff and students to get vaccinated."

"We also know that vaccinations are the most powerful tool we have as we work towards a full return to in-person learning in the fall," the statement continued. "We will continue to work with local school leaders and provide the necessary support to ensure a successful and seamless full return to the classroom."

The new policy goes against the recommendations outlined by McKee and the Department of Education earlier this summer. Under the original guidance, masks were optional for fully vaccinated students and staff, and strongly recommended for unvaccinated students and children under 12 years old who are not yet eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.