9 District 51 schools implement mask mandates due to rise of COVID-19 positivity rates

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) - On Friday, nine schools within the Mesa County Valley School District 51 have reinstated mask mandates due to more than 2% of the school’s population testing positive for COVID-19.

According to guidance determined by D51, Mesa County Public Health, and the Keeping Schools Open Task Force, students and staff are required to wear masks once a threshold of 2% of the school’s population tests positive for COVID-19. The mask mandate lasts for 10 calendar days at minimum. The incidence rate must remain below 1% for 5 consecutive calendar days before the mask mandate is lifted.

D51 reports, as of Friday, the following schools are requiring students to wear masks:

• Chipeta Elementary School
• Fruitvale Elementary School
• New Emerson STEAM Elementary School
• Shelledy Elementary School
• Tope Elementary School
• Wingate Elementary School
• Fruita Middle School
• Redlands Middle School
• Central High School

One school affected by the mask mandate sent out a letter to parents, it reads, “Many elementary classes in the district that have experienced a positive COVID-19 case have successfully mitigated the spread of COVID-19 to others by wearing masks for 10 days after a student or staff member’s diagnosis. We hope this action will bring down Fruitvale’s positivity rate and prevent further cases.”

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