Cobb schools will no longer require fully vaccinated individuals to wear a mask

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coronavirus under electron microscopeCoronavirus under electron microscope (image by Felipe Esquivel Reed, licensed under CC-SA 4.0)

Posted By: Larry Felton Johnson May 14, 2021

The Cobb County School District has updated its COVID-19 precautionary policies based on recent CDC recommendations.

The press release from the district announcing the change is reprinted below:

Cobb Schools Updated Public Health Guidance

Over the last year and a half, our students, staff, families, and entire county have faced very difficult circumstances. Our students have learned, and our teachers have taught, through the COVID-19 pandemic with information about COVID-19 that has not always been easy to understand.   

Earlier today, the CDC announced that they have updated mask guidelines for fully vaccinated individuals. The new guidance states:   

  • Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance   
  • Fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter   

In accordance with the new guidance, Cobb Schools will no longer require fully vaccinated individuals to wear a mask. I would also like to make clear that any individual wishing to continue wearing a mask while attending school and/or school events should feel free to do so.   

The CDC further outlines that those adults who have been vaccinated may also:   

  • Resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance   
  • Resume domestic travel and refrain from testing before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel   
  • Refrain from testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings   
  • Refrain from quarantine following a known exposure if asymptomatic   

In addition, I know many of you have questions about mask guidance for students for the 2021-2022 school year. As our cases are continuing to trend down and vaccinations are trending up, we fully expect to start the 2021-2022 school year with masks as optional. We are looking forward to returning our entire focus to teaching and learning as soon as possible, as One Team.