CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Metropolitan School District announced that the district’s COVID-19 mask mandate has been lifted, but the district is still encouraging students, staff and visitors to wear face coverings. 

While cases are down in the district and the area, district CEO Eric Gordon said masks are still being urged due to low vaccination rates among students. The decision to no longer require masks comes less than two weeks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its masking guidance. 

The CDC’s updated guidance no longer urges masks where COVID-19 spread is at low or medium levels. Currently, Cuyahoga County is listed with low COVID-19 spread, according to the CDC.

Gordon said that 20% of students ages 5-11 and 30 % of those ages 12-19 are vaccinated. 

“The reality is that, because vaccination rates are so low, many in our community are still at risk of catching the virus, and all of us, vaccinated or unvaccinated, can be carriers,” Gordon said. “Letting our guard now could easily lead to another surge and more of the suffering that has devastated Cleveland families.”

Last week, Cleveland Metropolitan Schools reported nine COVID-19 cases among students and staff, which is down from a peak of 333 cases the week before Christmas. 

According to data collected by the New York Times, the daily case rate in Cuyahoga County has dropped from a peak of more than 3,000 per day in late December to 75. 

Besides urging more students to become vaccinated, Gordon said the district’s testing program will continue. 

“The district will also continue to offer free weekly COVID testing in our schools for students and staff. Please contact your school’s full-time health professional for more information about this free COVID testing,” he said.