Erie County mandates masks as part of COVID school guidance
Read the full guidance
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Masks will be required in all schools throughout Erie County, regardless of vaccination status, according to the official guidance released by the Erie County Department of Health on Monday.
[READ complete guidance documents below]
Erie County is requiring masks to be worn by anybody above the age of two at all times indoors. This includes classrooms, hallways, offices, restrooms, gyms, and locker rooms. Masks do not need to be worn in outdoor settings, though Erie County is strongly recommending the use of face coverings in that setting.
Masks will also be worn on the school bus.
Students will be given a mask break each hour for five minutes.
"Our goal is to return all students to an in-school learning experience for every day of the school year," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said during Monday's briefing. "The guidance...is a comprehensive guidance that's based on the CDC guidance as well as recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. It applies to every public and private charter school in Erie County."
Here is the COMPLETE guidance from ECDOH:
There are some exceptions to mask use. The guidance said those with a disability or medical condition should work with the school for a reasonable accommodation. Schools may require written documentation of a medical or physical condition from a physician before providing an exception.
Local school leaders also collaborated with the county on the guidelines. Poloncarz and Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein were joined Monday by Erie 1 BOCES Superintendent Lynn Fusco, Erie 2 BOCES Superintendent David O'Rourke, and Hamburg Superintendent Michael Cornell, who is also the President of the Erie Niagara Superintendent's Association.
Physical distancing at school is loosely defined. Last year, schools were limited in their class sizes due to the requirement of six feet of social distancing. This year, schools are advised to implement physical distancing "to the extent possible within their facilities but should not exclude students from in-person learning to meet a minimum distance requirement."
