North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper strongly encouraged face coverings in schools, saying masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Public school districts across the Carolinas are reviewing COVID-19 protocols as the omicron variant continues to cause a surge in coronavirus cases nationwide.
At the state level in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper strongly recommended but did not require, masks for most students this school year. Local school districts on the county or city level are instituting their own decisions on whether students or staff will need to wear masks.
Currently, North Carolina law requires school systems to vote on face covering policies once a month. The legislation is for the 2021-22 school year.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging K-12 districts to follow guidance issued in the NC StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.
Schools in South Carolina were originally banned from implementing a mask requirement policy. On Tuesday, Sept. 28, U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order on the enforcement of the proviso that stops masks from being required in schools.
The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and Attorney General Alan Wilson’s request to stop a U.S. District Court judge’s order about the ruling on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
WCNC Charlotte will continue to follow updates as they become available. Click here for the county by county list.