UPDATE: The AELR has voted to lift the mask mandate.

Original story below…

——

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland State Board of Education on Tuesday voted to lift the statewide school mask mandate.

The board voted 12-2 in favor of lifting the requirement.

The measure will now need to receive final approval from the state’s Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) committee, a panel of state delegates and senators that oversees regulations in the state, .

“I want to thank the State Board of Education for heeding our call to rescind its school mask policy,” Governor Larry Hogan said on Tuesday.

The governor’s full statement can be viewed below.

I want to thank the State Board of Education for heeding our call to rescind its school mask policy. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/P0NrEMXgli

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 22, 2022

#Update: Based on latest metrics, vaccination rates, data & research, the State Board voted to remove the statewide emergency face covering requirement in schools beginning March 1, contingent on legislative approval.

The AELR must review and approve to repeal the emergency reg. https://t.co/NydgGGew1x

— Maryland State Department of Education (@MdPublicSchools) February 22, 2022

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels