May 14, 2021 – Recently released guidance from the CDC advises that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors. Individuals must, however, comply with private or local agency rules regarding facial coverings.
How does this impact Duval County Public Schools?
First, while some district students, age 16 and over, have had access to the vaccine for a few weeks, the vast majority of district students are either ineligible to be vaccinated or were added to the eligibility list the same exact week the guidance was released. For unvaccinated students, facial coverings continue to be a key strategy for mitigating against the spread of COVID-19.
Therefore, in the interest of student and staff safety, the facial covering requirements will remain in place for the remainder of the school year.
The District will continue to work toward the goal of partnering with health officials to increase and promote vaccine access. On Saturday, the District’s first vaccine clinic for students will be held at Sandalwood High School from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit this link to see how to register for the Sandalwood clinic and view additional venues where vaccines are available for students ages 12 and up.
Outdoor graduations
The availability of vaccines and the evolving CDC guidance do support one step that can be safely take toward normalcy. Face coverings will be optional at outdoor graduations on school campuses for students and guests. Additionally, schools will not be required to conduct temperatures checks prior to entry for graduation. The District believes that removing these measures will not impact the safety of our graduates and guests and align with the guidance from the CDC.
Do not forget – The District is looking for input regarding COVID-19 safety measures for the upcoming school year. Visit here to complete the survey, which is available now through Monday, May 24.
