Supervisors may suspend the mask mandate for San Joaquin County facilities.

When they meet Tuesday, they could also direct staff to bring back paperwork to their March 22 meeting to terminate the local emergency proclamation that has been in place since the COVID pandemic started in March 20.

Such a move would mirror similar action the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors took earlier this month.

The  recommendation to lift the county mask requirement in county facilities is based on the decline of case rates based on COVID testing.

The state has already taken steps to move out of the pandemic stage to the endemic period. That means COVID is reaching a point where it can be effectively managed.

While the state has lifted most masking requirements,  K-12 students are still required to use them at school. Sacramento has indicated it may change that directive on Monday.

State leadership is using the acronym “SMARTER”, which includes Shots, Masks, Awareness, etc. as California moves out of the pandemic stage.

In the staff report for Tuesday’s board meeting, it states “our school-aged children have suffered throughout the pandemic. This unnecessary restriction will further erode their ability to learn, grasp facial expressions, hear correct pronunciation in communications and language, detect emotions, etc. Numerous studies have shown that the children’s health and wellbeing are dramatically being affected in a negative and lasting manner.”

It should be noted the Board of Supervisors has no legal authority regarding health issues related to schools including the wearing of masks.

Schools must work within the parameters they are given by state and county health authorities.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email deyatt@mantecabulletin.com