Charleston County School District is considering re-implementing face mask mandate when Winter break ends, parents informed via email

Charleston, South Carolina – The Covid-19 numbers across the country are on the rise once again and so is the case in South Carolina.

While many started to fear the Omicron variant that was officially discovered in three samples in South Carolina two days ago, the Delta variant of the virus is still the biggest threat for the people as more than 99 percent of the cases recently are Delta variant cases.

The increasing number of cases lately since Thanksgiving, prompted state officials and leaders in many states across the country to reconsider many of the well-known pandemic measures in an effort to slow down the spread of the virus and potentially avoid new winter Covid-19 wave which appears to be just starting.

That said, California already implemented state wide indoor mask mandate for every single person regardless of their vaccination status. Philadelphia health officials announced that proof of vaccination will be required for all indoor dining, starting on Jan. 3. Many other states are also considering enforcing similar pandemic measures.

Since the number of new Covid-19 cases in South Carolina is also on the rise, Charleston County School District is considering re-implementing the mask mandate in schools when Winter break ends. This information was released to parents in an email Thursday.

The decision will be based on the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s assessment of COVID-19 at the end of December. “If the rating is medium or high on December 31, per Policy ADD, the Board will direct the district to enforce the wear of masks” when the next semester starts, CCSD said in an email.

Charleston County currently has high rate of transmission and high numbers of cases, according to DHEC.

The winter break ends after the New Year. Teachers are required to get back to work on January 3, while students are getting back to school one day later, on January 4.

The vote will reinstate a policy that will also allow for exemptions. If students have been previously approved for an exemption through a waiver, they will not have to wear a face covering. “New face mask exemptions will not be processed until if and when the mask requirement starts.”