RI Lifting Mask Requirements: What You Should Know

PROVIDENCE, RI — Big changes are coming to Rhode Island this week in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting this weekend, masks or proof of vaccination will no longer be required in public settings, while the requirement for mask wearing in schools is expected to end March 4.

At his COVID-19 news conference Wednesday, McKee said the public mask mandate will lift as of Friday. The policy was put into place at the beginning of the omicron surge, just before Christmas.

McKee said that if the General Assembly approves an extension of his emergency executive powers for an additional 60 days, he will allow the universal masking requirement for schools to expire as of March 4. After that, masking requirements will be determined on the individual district level.

The governor said these changes are part of the state's move towards "emphasizing personal responsibility," rather than relying on government mandates.

"We have to learn how to manage COVID as we move from a pandemic to an endemic level," McKee said.

The decision to lift the restrictions was made based on improving case numbers, hospitalizations and percent positivity rate, McKee said, which have been steadily falling since the latest surge's peak at the beginning of the year. The latest models predict that the state is expected to fall below the current "high" community transmission level — more than 100 cases per 100,000 people — by March 4, Dr. James McDonald, the interim director of the Rhode Island Department of Health said.

Schools

Getting rid of the universal requirement in schools won't mean that all students and staff will be mask-free after March 4. Instead, districts will have the ability to make individual decisions based on case numbers, vaccination rates and other factors within their district.

"What we're not saying is masks are no longer needed in schools, we're lifting the statewide mandate," McDonald explained.

In the weeks leading up to March 4, the Department of Health will work with the Department of Education to create guidelines districts can use when making masking decisions. District leaders are encouraged to work closely with health officials to make the best call for their community.

McKee said that although implementing the mask requirement back in August was the right choice at the time, it doesn't mean that's still the case.

"The correct thing to do then isn't necessarily the correct thing to do now," McKee said, adding that he trusts local leaders to "do the right thing."

At the time, he was hesitant to issue a statewide mandate, he explained Thursday, saying he would have preferred that local cities and towns had more say. However, at the time, about 90 percent of districts agreed with the masking, requirement, the governor continued.

Once the order is lifted March 4, it's unlikely to return before the end of the school year. Based on current models, another surge in cases is unlikely, McKee said, and that it was "not the plan" to reinstate it.

Vaccinations

As the state moves away from masking requirements, it's now more important than every to get as many people possible vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, the governor said, especially when it comes to schools.

"We can't stress enough how important this is in our long-term response to COVID," McKee said of getting students vaccinated.

Children under 14 are the least-vaccinated category in the state. According to the Department of Health, 63 percent of kids aged 10 to 14 are at least partially vaccinated, alongside just 20 percent of those aged 9 and under. It is important to note that children under 5 are not currently eligible to get vaccinated, though that could change in the coming days, if Pfizer receives approval from federal agencies.

When to wear a mask

While it won't be required after Friday, Dr. McDonald encouraged certain Rhode Islanders to continue wearing masks in public spaces. This includes those who are unvaccinated, are at a higher risk from COVID-19 or who have not gotten their vaccine and booster.

It's also a good idea to keep a mask on hand when heading out in public, since individual businesses may still require mask-wearing.

While Rhode Island will be lifting its state-level restrictions, the federal requirement for masks on public transit still applies. Masks will be required on airplanes, trains and Rhode Island Public Transit Authority buses.

This article originally appeared on the Cranston Patch