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Cleveland Metropolitan School District suspends its mask mandate

CEO Eric Gordon says it is CMSD's "strong preference" that students and adults wear masks while in district schools and offices.

CLEVELAND — With COVID-19 case numbers drastically reduced and new guidance in place from the CDC, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District has announced that it is suspending its mask mandate. 

"While masks will no longer be required at this time, based on the low vaccination rates among school-age children, it is the Cleveland Department of Public Health and the District's strong preference that students and adults wear masks while in district schools and offices," CMSD CEO Eric Gordon said in a video message released Tuesday.

Earlier this week, Cuyahoga County moved from "medium" to "low risk" in the CDC's transmission category. The guidance for “low risk” indicates that the general population should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, and get tested if symptomatic.

However, Gordon remains concerned that many in the community remain at risk of catching COVID-19 due to the low vaccination rate among children. "Letting our guard down now could easily lead to another surge and more of the suffering that has devastated Cleveland families," he added.

CMSD students and parents should be prepared for the necessity of reinstating the mask requirement should cases increase again, according to Gordon. You can watch his entire message in the player below:

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