New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
In a letter dated August 16, Superintendent Thomas Anderson has notified New Bedford Public Schools Students, Parents/Guardians, and Staff that “Effective August 25, 2021, all students, staff, and visitors—regardless of vaccination status—must wear masks indoors while in any New Bedford Public Schools’ facility.”
The letter goes on to list areas and situations in which “Face-masks will not be required: (1) when outside; (2) when an individual works alone or in a segregated space; or (3), there are underlying conditions or extenuating circumstances as outlined last year.”
Noting the new Delta variant of COVID-19 virus as a chief reason for continuing the mask policy, Superintendent Anderson stated, “It is clear that the pandemic will still be around, and we will face continued challenges in the upcoming school year… and safely conducting the teaching and learning process without interrupting in-person instruction is our goal.”
As was implemented last year, comprehensive sanitization measures will remain a top priority of custodial staff in all district buildings, Superintendent Anderson said, adding, “We are using several of the mitigations strategies that proved to be effective this past school year including the air exchange units and mask wearing, which helped to keep the virus from spreading in schools.”
The letter is available on the NBPS district homepage: www.newbedfordschools.org.
This revised mask requirement is consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions about COVID are also available on the NBPS district homepage and the Massachusetts Department of Education website: www.doe.mass.edu/covid19
