The Tablet Staff
In response to Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement on Sunday, February 27, 2022, that the NYS School Mask Mandate would be lifted as of Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes Queens, will make face coverings an individual choice for school personnel and a parental choice for all students.
The change takes effect on Wednesday, March 2nd.
However, the New York City funded Pre-K-3 and Pre-K-4 programs must continue to wear masks as required by the New York City Department of Education.
“We respect all faculty, staff, and parents of differing opinions, and we understand the concern on both sides of the issue. No individual, faculty, staff, or student will be discouraged from wearing a face covering at school and face coverings will remain a recommended mitigation strategy,” a letter from Diocesan schools’ officials sent to parents states.
Other preventive strategies that will continue include:
- Speaking with your Healtcare Provider regarding Vaccination
- Staying home when sick and getting tested
- Physical Distancing
- Ventilation
- Handwashing and respiratory etiquette
- Isolation and quarantine protocols in combination with Test to Stay Strategy
- Cleaning and disinfection
The Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have safely guided their school communities from the beginning of the pandemic, offering safe in-person instruction since September 2020 and following the recommendations of the New York State Department of Health and the New York City Department of Health.
As the pandemic has evolved over the past two years, and public health officials learned more about the COVID-19 virus and its variants, the Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have adapted their COVID-19 safety and health protocols and will continue to adapt to the latest information, to safely guide school communities until the end of the pandemic.