Reed schools keeping outdoor-masking rule
Kids in the Reed Union School District will still need to wear face coverings outdoors while on campus, district officials confirmed last week, even after county public-health officials tweaked guidance for schools to recommend the practice rather than require it.
Marin Public Health and the Marin County Office of Education earlier this month jointly debuted an updated 32-point safety plan for schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which included a mandate that all staff and students wear face coverings both indoors and out while at school — a requirement health officers noted was stricter than overall county guidance, which only mandates masks indoors.
On Aug. 18, with the county facing a restraining order from a Novato parent, that guidance was updated to change the school outdoor masking requirement to a recommendation that called on families to adopt universal masking while on campus, even outdoors.
“This does not change anything for us,” said Reed district Superintendent Kimberly McGrath, who said the district would continue to require universal masking on its three campuses.
• The Food and Drug Administration on Aug. 23 gave full approval to the two-dose Pfizer vaccine for everyone 16 and older, opening the door to new vaccine mandates nationwide.
• Marin on Aug. 21 hosted a one-day mass clinic at Marin Center Exhibit Hall to give third-dose boosters of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, how available to all those severely immunocompromised.
• Effective Sept. 15, all Marin first-responder agencies must verify the vaccination status of their personnel. Those who are not fully vaccinated, or their status is unknown, will be required to take a COVID-19 test at least once per week and provide the results to their employers.
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