Manteca Unified is not pondering dropping mask requirements for vaccinated students and staff.
The reason is simple.
Manteca Unified — just like all other schools districts in the state — must comply with directives issued by the California Department of Public Health Department and county health departments when it comes to COVID-19
Gov. Newsom’s directive to lift the state indoor mask requirement starting Feb. 15 doesn’t apply to schools.
“We have no choice but to follow what CDPH tells us,” noted Manteca Unified Community Outreach Director Victoria Brunn.
That said, Brunn noted the situation is fluid. If there is a change in directive in the near future that could potentially change the status of some campus COVID protocols.
Brunn emphasized regardless the district will continue to pursue steps to protect students and staff health.
As of Thursday, the district had 404 students and 39 staff members out of 26,000 plus who have tested positive and were staying away from schools.
Afer Feb. 15, unvaccinated people still will be required to be masked indoors, and everyone — vaccinated or not — will have to wear masks in higher-risk areas like public transit and nursing homes and other congregate living facilities, officials said. Local governments can continue their own indoor masking requirements and last week Los Angeles County's health officials said they intend to keep theirs in place beyond the state deadline.
State officials also announced that Indoor "mega events" with more than 1,000 people will have to require vaccinations or negative tests for those attending and those who are unvaccinated will be required to wear masks. For outdoor events with more than 10,000 people, there is no vaccination requirement but masks or negative tests are recommended..
Those thresholds increase from the current 500 attendees for indoor and 5,000 attendees for outdoor events. The increased threshold comes after Sunday's Super Bowl that will draw as many as 100,000 football fans to SoFi Stadium outside Los Angeles.
