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On March 4, 2022, Portland Public Schools announced that they would be “lifting the mask mandate on March 14” on social media, thus making it optional for masks to be worn in schools. Although originally the mask mandate was scheduled to end on March 31, due to rapidly declining COVID-19 hospitalizations in Multnomah County, it was actually lifted early. Some students, however, are unsure about removing their masks.
On Friday, March 11, students from multiple high schools in the PPS school district walked out in protest of this decision and ended up in front of the PPS district office. I asked a friend and he said he went out protesting the mask mandate.
Discarded Mask by Emilia Harrison
Mask Mandate Lifts by Riley Hilbers
It surprised many people how quickly the mask mandate was being lifted, and many students were nervous about the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Roosevelt students took a survey, and over half of students said that they wanted to continue to wear a mask. I asked a student, who said he wasn’t nervous about taking off his mask.
I personally believe that we should wear a face mask, because when we take off this important layer of protection we are exposed to COVID-19 and if we do that then the covid cases would go up and we would have to put on our mask again. Cases may stay relatively low in the summer because everyone is outside, but when the 2022-2023 school year comes around, more people will be inside therefore spreading the virus.
By Jerry Strohecker
Roosevelt High School
Published May 3, 2022
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