Jefferson City Schools to decide on mask requirements

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jefferson City Schools are set to decide on mask requirements at schools, as the deadline to make the decision is set for Monday, according to the district's return plan.

Currently, the district's return plan only requires masks on school buses.

The district also says however, masks will play a roll into any contact tracing investigation:

• Close contacts of a positive case who are not vaccinated and not wearing a mask will be required to quarantine.
• Close contacts of a positive case who are vaccinated, not wearing a mask and are not symptomatic will not be required to quarantine.
• Close contacts of a positive case who are vaccinated, not wearing a mask and are symptomatic will be required to quarantine.

The plan, already includes increased efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 including social distancing measures such as spacing out desks three feet apart.

JC Schools will also use assigned seating in all common areas, to assist with contact tracing in the event of a positive case.

Students will have a virtual option however, an application is required to be approved before moving to virtual learning.

This, comes as Cole County reports 315 new cases over the past seven days, according to the state's website. The county's positivity rate sits slightly above the state's 14.6%, at 14.99%.

This also comes days after Columbia Public Schools made an announcement requiring masks for students and staff, which is set to go into place Monday.