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Updated at 5:18 pm
UPDATE: A statewide mask mandate for Massachusetts schools officially went into effect on Wednesday afternoon.
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) – Effective immediately, all public school students five and above, staff and visitors are required to wear masks indoors in schools. Masks are not required when outdoors.
On Tuesday August 24, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education held a special meeting where they gave state education commissioner Jeff Riley the authority to implement a universal school mask mandate in place.
Read More: Mass. Education Board Authorizes Commissioner To Mandate Masks In Schools
The mandate applies to all students, staff and faculty in grades K-12. Riley said he would lift the mandate on October 1, but only for middle and high school students if the school has a vaccination rate of at least 80 %.
This could change, however, if the course of the virus changes and more cases arise during the school year.
Read More: Protests Outside Malden DESE Headquarters Over School Masks
Students under the age of five will not have to wear masks as well as those who cannot wear one for medical reasons or behavioral needs.
WBZ’s Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) was at the meeting yesterday which was held in Malden:
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