RI’s Transmission Rate and Hospitalizations Are Down - Providence Schools Are Mandating Masks

RI’s Transmission Rate and Hospitalizations Are Down - Providence Schools Are Mandating Masks

Providence Public Schools announced on Monday that effective Tuesday, May 24, masks will again be required in schools for the "health and safety of students, staff, and the community."

The decision comes as the number of Rhode Islanders who are hospitalized has decreased and on a day when the Rhode Island Department of Health reported a decrease in transmission rate.

This Providence school policy applies inside its facilities, on District transportation, and indoors at PPSD-sponsored events. The mask requirement does not apply to outdoor activities. Masks will continue to be supplied in all schools for anyone who needs one.

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The decision to require masks comes after continuous monitoring of COVID-19 case data across the District and from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The average number of daily positive cases among PPSD staff and students has increased from a low of approximately 10 per day in March and early April to approximately 40 positive cases per day in early May and 60 positive cases per day last week.

Most of RI was also recently upgraded to 'high risk' for community spread of COVID-19, according to the CDC. Newport County was not upgraded.

“Given the increase in cases and new information from the CDC, I engaged in discussions with students, staff, community members, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the Rhode Island Department of Education,” said Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “The additional mitigation layer of masking will help us manage this new COVID surge and keep more students in the classroom where they learn best. It’s also important for us to manage this surge for the over 3,000 students who will continue their education in our summer learning programs in the coming weeks.”

The Providence schools spokesperson could not answer questions about the "new information from the CDC."

Masks are one layer of the COVID-19 safety strategy in Providence Public Schools. The District has continued mitigation measures throughout this school year without interruption. These include:

Continued weekly asymptomatic testing

An additional 25,000 rapid tests deployed to schools

Supporting vaccination among staff, families, and eligible students

Multiple vaccination clinics for elementary, middle, and high school students

Continued deployment of HEPA filters in classrooms

Cleaning, disinfecting, and hand hygiene in all classrooms

Quarantine protocols and requirements for individuals potentially exposed to COVID-19

Continued supply of surgical masks to schools as requested

Deployed over 100,000 KN95s masks for staff members and students since January

 

The District will continue tracking COVID-19 data and will reevaluate this mask requirement on a consistent basis moving forward.  provided by individual schools in the coming days.