US schools begin to lift mask mandates as Covid transmission falls

Some U.S. schools are starting to lift mask mandates as the latest Covid-19 wave fades, and case trends suggest others may soon follow.

At least a half dozen school districts across the country have recently lifted their mandates, the first such swing away from the face coverings, according to Burbio, which tracks the developments and runs a dashboard on schools. They include Troup County in Georgia, Rogers Public Schools in Arkansas and Northside ISD in Texas, Burbio reported.

As of Oct. 15, 78% of the 500 largest districts still required masks, according to Burbio data. Many of the schools that made a change still recommend the coverings even though they’re now optional.