Elementary school reinstates mask mandate for some kindergarten students

As of Tuesday, a public elementary school in a Washington, D.C., suburb is requiring some kindergarten students to wear KN95 masks, according to a letter obtained by OutKick founder Clay Travis.

A Tuesday letter from Rosemary Hills Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland, informed parents that some students would be mandated to wear masks at school for a 10-day period after at least three students tested positive for COVID-19.

"This letter is to inform you that 3 or more individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in [redacted] class in the past 10 days," the school's principal, Rebecca Irwin Kennedy, stated. "Additional KN95 masks have been distributed and students and staff in identified classes or activities will be required to mask while in school for the next 10 days, except while eating or drinking. Masks will become optional again following the 10 day period."

Kennedy said the mandate would "prevent further transmission" and "ensure that staff and students remain healthy for in-person learning."

According to the school's letter, students were also provided at-home rapid test kits and urged to inform the school's attendance office of any positive results.

"At-home rapid test kits will be sent home and made available for students. The CDC recommends testing at least 5 days after an exposure (starting day 6), or anytime if symptoms develop," the principal stated.

The school instructed students who received positive results to stay home.

Travis initially reported that the mandate applied to a third-grade classroom but later issued a correction that it impacted a kindergarten class. According to its website, the school serves approximately 590 children from pre-kindergarten through second grade.

Montgomery County Public School system previously told parents in its back-to-school message that it "strongly recommended" students be vaccinated against COVID, WTOP-TV reported. The district also said it would not inform parents of individual virus breakouts. However, "staff and students will be notified about exposures to multiple cases in a possible outbreak situation."

A spokesperson for the school told the outlet that the mandate would end on September 11.

Dr. Brett Osborn, a board-certified neurosurgeon in West Palm Beach, Florida, told Fox News Digital, "One thing that Americans must understand: SARS-CoV-2 and its variants are never going away."

Osborn continued, "It is here to stay because its mutation rate is high, just like influenza."

Rosemary Hills Elementary School did not respond to a request for comment, Fox News Digital reported.

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