Chicago Public Schools students, teachers and staff will be required to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status, when they return to classrooms next month, the district announced Thursday.

       “Based on feedback from our public health experts at the local, state and federal levels, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), we will require that masks/cloth face coverings continue to be worn indoors by everyone, regardless of vaccination status, except for while eating or drinking. This includes students, educators, support staff and all visitors to school buildings,” interim CPS Chief Executive Officer José Torres wrote in a letter to parents.

       “Face coverings may be removed for outdoor activities, such as recess and some sports activities. Continuing to require masks will help make sure those in our school communities who are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, which encompasses the majority of our students, remain as safe as possible.”

       CPS said it will also try to ensure that 3 feet of social distancing is maintained wherever possible when schools reopen Aug. 30 for full-time instruction. The district said some students will eat lunch in a classroom, while others will eat in their school cafeteria to allow for social distancing during mealtimes.

       Air purifiers, hand sanitizer, cleaning, disinfecting and contact tracing are also part of CPS’s plan.

       CPS’s announcement comes as Chicago sees a rise in coronavirus cases thanks to the highly contagious delta variant. Earlier this week, the AAP said everyone older than 2 should wear a mask in schools, regardless of their vaccination status.

       That guidance is different from the advice offered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which said earlier this month that fully vaccinated students, teachers and staff don’t need face coverings inside classrooms. The Illinois Department of Public Health “fully adopted” the school guidance issued by the CDC for the fall.

       tswartz@tribpub.com

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