The Northside Independent School District lifted its temporary mask mandate effective Feb. 14, Valentines Day, according to a school district statement.

The mask mandate had been in place since Jan. 20, and will still be strongly encouraged but not required for students, staff and visitors, inside school facilities or busses, the statement said.

“The removal of the temporary mandate is based on improving metrics in both the city and county as well as in our schools,” the statement said. “Metrics that were specifically monitored include the percentage of positive tests, cases per 100,000 residents, positive cases reported directly to our schools, number of individuals in self-isolation or quarantine, and student and staff attendance rates.”

Over the past two weeks all the metrics have improved. According to the distinct COVID-19 dashboard for the week of Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, there were 143 staff members with active cases, 32 non-campus staff and 564 students.

“We will keep in place COVID protocols to include notification of confirmed cases, weekly website reporting, and frequent sanitizing,” the district said. “Likewise, we will continue to host COVID testing and vaccination locations across the district."



More information on testing and vaccination opportunities can be found on the district’s website at nisd.net/schools/health/covid.