With COVID-19 cases decreasing around the country, some counties are ending their mask mandates. This includes Ingham County, which rescinded a couple pandemic emergency orders. Among them was one that required masks in all K-12 schools throughout the county.
However, the Lansing Public School District will not be ending its mask mandate. At the Board of Education meeting tonight, the board voted to keep the mask mandate in place until the end of the school year.
The board kept the mandate after the district COVID coordination team suggested that the mandate be extended.
The board considered several factors. Despite cases going down around the country, county and city, there is still a massive number of beds being taken up at local hospitals. Dr. Farhan Bhatti brought up the numbers during discussion. At Sparrow Hospital, bed occupancy is 97%, while McLaren Greater Lansing bed occupancy is 89%.
Some members of the community appreciated the board’s decision and were happy to see the mandate get extended. Lansing Sexton High School public safety officer Ron Blair was one.
“I’m for the extension of the mandate,” said Blair. “I’m always on the side of safety.”