NEW JERSEY — District officials announced Thursday that Paterson public schools will revert to universal masking when schools and offices reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
School Superintendent Eileen Shafer notified parents and staff in a Dec. 22 letter citing the increase in COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and flu cases in New York Passaic County as the basis for your decision.
Shafer also noted that he made the decision after consulting with Paterson City Health Director Dr. Paul Persaud.
“Your safety and well-being are our priority, so to mitigate the spread of the disease, it has been decided that we will reinstate mask requirements at the district level upon returning from winter break,” Shafer’s Dec. 22 letter reads. . . “We will reevaluate this decision as we follow the data and monitor the change in throughput.”
The letter goes on to appeal to all those who may be relieved or frustrated by the reinstatement of the mask requirement. The wearing of masks has been mandated in all public schools in Paterson, with requests to take into account other precautions related to the spread of COVID-19, RSV and influenza.
Students will be required to wear masks from the time they enter the building until the time they exit the building, according to Shafer. Masks will be available for those who don’t have them. PPE will be provided to schools for student and staff needs.
Students may only remove their masks when eating, drinking or taking medication. All visitors to schools must also comply with the mask obligation.
Parents were encouraged to help their children keep their masks clean by washing their hands before putting on one and before taking off the mask.
District officials will continue to monitor transmission speeds and reevaluate the decision as needed.
Also this month, the Passaic School District also decided to reinstate mask requirements in New Jersey.
