Masks a requirement for Chicago Catholic schools

When more than 70,000 students who attend Roman Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago return to in-person classes this fall, they’ll be required to wear masks indoors and get temperature checks before entering their building each day, under plans announced Friday.

Students also must adhere to designated pickup, drop-off and walking routes, and they will remain in assigned cohorts with the same classmates throughout the day, according to a news release. Catholic schools in the archdiocese, which covers Cook and Lake counties, possibly will have scattered start dates ranging from August through early September, a spokesman said.

“We believe that in-person instruction is the best way to benefit our students and are committed to providing that instruction in a safe manner,” said Jim Rigg, superintendent of the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools.

The details came after Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, announced last month that fall classes would happen in person. The school system decided to switch to online instruction March 13 to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Families can still choose for their children to continue online learning this fall, the archdiocese said in the release.

“We have worked hard to provide a reopening plan that recognizes the great benefits of in-school instruction and still expresses our commitment to the preservation of human life,” Cupich said.

School employees also will need to adhere to the indoor mask requirement. Students younger than 2 years old do not need to wear masks, the school system announced. Other students can only remove their masks during some activities, including lunch and recess, but must stay distant from one another.

Temperature checks will happen each day when students enter their school buildings. Parents also are asked to check their children’s temperature each day.

Students with symptoms or diagnoses of COVID-19 will need to quarantine and get medical help before returning to school.

The plan was devised by the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Schools, which worked with a COVID-19 task force that consisted of state and local officials, medical experts, priests, parents and principals, the release said.

The archdiocese said there is a possibility its schools would close again if the state sees a “significant rise” in coronavirus cases.