Union County Public Schools going mask-optional as COVID case counts decline

Michael Doyle, Henderson Gleaner
·2 min read

MORGANFIELD, Ky. — Following several weeks of lower COVID-19 case numbers, Union County public schools have moved to a facemask-optional policy on school grounds.

Henderson County schools are still implementing universal masking. The Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1 on Sept. 9, allowing individual school districts to shape their own mask policy based on CDC and state Department of Health guidelines. Currently, Henderson's COVID incidence rate, at 21.2 cases per 100,000, is more than double that of Union County's.

The new Union County policy went into effect Monday. Superintendent Patricia Sheffer's statement in a call to parents was also posted to social media. Sheffer said the county's move to "orange" and "yellow" status levels from the Kentucky Department for Public Health precipitated the decision.

"Our district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan outlines that the wearing of face masks in our district be guided by the local incident rates," said the school system's news release. "Thankfully, Union County has experienced declining rates and has been at the orange and yellow levels for the last two weeks. This aligns with and meets the criteria in our plan for the Board to offer optional masking."

Masks will still be required on buses at all times due to federal mandate. Students and staff members who want to continuing masking at school will allowed to do so.

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The school system will continue to offer the Test-to-Stay rapid testing option on campus as an alternative to quarantine, for those students who may have had close contact with a COVID-positive individual.

As of Friday, the state heath department marked Union County at orange status with an incidence rate of 10.9. However, on the previous Monday, the county was at yellow with an incidence rate of six cases per capita. According to the news release, the school will monitor incidence rates and other factors to determine if a return to universal masking is necessary.

"We are committed to providing in-person instruction 5 days a week in the safest manner possible," Sheffer said. "Therefore, we will continue to closely monitor our county’s incidence rate and other local factors. If any of these local factors indicate a need, we will reconsider universal masking."

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Union County Public Schools facemask policy