January 7th, 2022 by WCBC Radio

An emergency statewide masking policy that was proposed before the latest COVID-19 surge is now in effect in Maryland schools-  however it’s an action that will not change anything for Allegany County schools. After a hearing this week, the General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review voted 11-5 to approve a school masking regulation to last for 180 days beginning immediately. The state said it's providing so-called "off ramps" for local school districts to lift mask mandates based on the following guidelines: Students can remove their mask when 80% of a county or the city has been vaccinated, a single school where 80% of students and staff members are vaccinated and 14 days where there is low to moderate community COVID-19 transmission. With one of the lowest vaccination rates in Maryland, Allegany County is not close to meeting any of those bench marks. Allegany County Board of Education vice president Robert Farrell in a recent interview with WCBC News after the “off ramps” were made public- expressed disappointment with the state mandated restrictions…

State school Superintendent Mohammed Choudhury told the committee he believes what's now in place will be enough protection for the foreseeable future…