Does my child have to wear a mask at school? Here are Coast district’s COVID rules
All but one Mississippi Gulf Coast school district are keeping mask wearing optional as students return to in-person classes this week and COVID-19 cases spike to peak numbers.
Despite recommendations from national and local health experts that students and faculty should wear masks in school regardless of vaccination status, only Moss Point has implemented a facial covering mandate. Most Coast school districts return to in-person learning on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
The spread in schools “is going to depend on some of the internal practices that the school puts in place,” said State Epidemiologist Paul Byers during a press conference last week.
“Masks are going to be vital. We’ve recommended masks in the indoor school setting really this entire school year and last year as well. It’s going to be real tricky coming back.”
Optional mask wearing for students and staff
- Biloxi
- Pass Christian
- Ocean Springs
- Gulfport
- Jackson County
Mandated mask wearing for students and staff
- Moss Point
School Districts that did not reply to the Sun Herald’s request for COVID protocol:
- Bay St. Louis-Waveland
- Long Beach
- Pascagoula-Gautier
- Harrison County
- Hancock County
This article is supported by the Journalism and Public Information Fund, a fund of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.
