According to a press release sent out by the Alachua County Public Schools on Monday August 2, 2021, masks will be temporarily required for Alachua County Public School employees, vendors and visitors to district facilities. This ACPS mask mandate is due in large part to the rapidly rising rate of COVID cases in the community and among employees. The press release states that this will be required regardless of vaccination status.

The requirement will take effect Tuesday, August 3 and last through Friday, September 17. The district will then reassess the COVID data to determine if the requirement should remain in place. Recently, cases among ACPS employees have risen significantly over the last two weeks, and one individual passed away this past weekend due to COVID-related complications, the press release states.

“With rates as high as they are, I felt the district had to take action to reduce the spread of COVID in our community and schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Carlee Simon. “The state has taken some options out of our hands, but this is something we can do to protect students and staff.”

A copy of the Superintendent’s email to employees about the ACPS mask mandate is available at: https://bit.ly/3A1FX9R