This message is for parents and guardians of Murray City School District.

As you may be aware, the transmission of COVID-19, and the recent surge of Omicron, have compelled the Salt Lake County Health Department to issue a public health order that goes into effect midnight, January 7, through February 5, 2022, 5 pm. The public health order requires people in Salt Lake County to wear well-fitting masks when indoors in public. The order includes wearing masks in all Murray City School District schools and district buildings.

Murray City School District is committed to following all applicable COVID-19-related laws and health orders. This means all students and school visitors, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection, will be required to wear a mask while in school buildings beginning Saturday, January 8, 2022.

Purpose of Mask Order
In issuing the mask order  Dr. Angela Dunn, Executive Director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, stated: “We desperately need to use every tool available to ensure our hospitals can continue providing excellent healthcare through this surge. We also need to ensure that our essential services have the staff necessary to operate—from law enforcement, to plow drivers, to schoolteachers. It is my obligation as health officer to take the action I believe has the best chance to prevent unnecessary suffering throughout our community.” Public health officials have also added that the purpose of this order is to protect public health and our critical industries’ staffing, not to hold someone criminally liable. Health officials are asking businesses and operators of other public spaces (including schools) to enforce this order as they do any other social-behavioral expectations that exist for their establishment.

Exemptions
Exemption to the order include:

  • Individuals under two years of age and those with medical conditions, impairments or disabilities that prevent wearing a mask.
  • Individuals engaging in work where they are alone and individuals for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to the individual related to their work as determined by local, state or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines.
  • Individuals seated at a restaurant or other food/beverage establishment while they are actively eating or drinking.

Individuals who qualify for a mask exemption under the current order may make that request to their school’s principal, and they will provide the parent with an exemption form.

Though we ask that students come prepared with their own mask, MCSD is equipped to supply them to students who need one. Salt Lake County Health recommends wearing N95 or KN95 masks, instead of cloth masks, if possible.

Vigilance Requested
We also ask for continued vigilance to health and wellness protocols both at and away from school. Until positive case counts decrease, students who are ill should stay at home, and parents are asked to get their children tested or examined by a medical professional if their student has COVID-19 symptoms. Vaccinations are yet another ongoing option parents should consider carefully.

Test to Stay
And, as a reminder, schools with fewer than 1500 students (all of Murray Schools fit this criterion) will hold a “Test to Stay” event should positive case counts reach 30 in the school. In this detection and prevention effort, upon parental approval, students are given rapid-antigen tests at the school during school hours. We will keep families apprised if this becomes necessary.

Questions?
We recognize there may be questions or concerns. Please direct questions by email to info@murrayschools.org. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation as we address this public-health challenge together.