Unmasked: NY Mask Requirement For Schools Ends Monday

New York guidance for masks in schools is shifting gears as we head into the final stretch of the school year.

Considering there are just a few weeks left in the school year, the timing of this is interesting. But nonetheless, the Times Union is reporting in a letter to the Centers for Disease Control Friday New York state health officials said they will no longer require masks in schools starting Monday, but their use will still be "strongly encouraged." Local districts will still have the final say in whether to move on from masks or keep the requirement. The Times Union says the New York State United Teachers Union expressed concern over making the change on a Friday to take place on a Monday.

Though it seems school districts will move with caution with any changes. My family is in the Shen school district and we got an email from the school system today saying the district would wait for guidance from the New York State Department of Health before making any changes.

And even if it is deemed safe, with only a few weeks left in the school, year why make a change now? I want everyone to move on from masks as soon as possible, but with a short stretch left in the year and everyone set in their routines, it makes sense to just ride out the last few weeks and get a clean start with no masks in the new school year in September.