Orange county schools extends mask requirement for all adults

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Officials with Orange County Public Schools announced the district would continue its mask policy through February.

OCPS said the requirement applies to all employees, volunteers, visitors and vendors while in OCPS buildings and vehicles.

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The mask requirement does not apply to students. However, district officials said they “strongly encourage the use of face masks by students.”

Orange County Public Schools had reinstated its mask requirement for all adults on Jan. 3.

Read: OCPS reinstates mask requirement for all adults

At the time, the district had cited the increase in COVID-19 positivity rate.

“As a result of the significant increase in positivity rate, and in an effort to protect our workforce, I have determined that all adults including employees, visitors and vendors, will be required to wear a face mask in OCPS buildings and vehicles through the month of January,” Jenkins tweeted.

Read: Orange County Public Schools will no longer provide excused absences due to increased COVID-19 cases

On Wednesday, OCPS said the district will no longer be able to provide excused absences in cases where parents keep students home due to increased COVID-19 cases.

“Beginning January 31, we will no longer be able to provide excused absences in such cases,” the district said. “The number of cases has continued to decline, and we continue to require face masks for adults and strongly encourage them for students. It is also an additional strain on our teachers as they continue to manage assignments for large numbers of absent students.”

VIDEO: OCPS reinstates mask requirement for all adults OCPS reinstates mask requirement for all adults

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