Reemphasizing the need to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents as well as parents, students, teachers and staff from the spread of COVID-19, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles today announced that he has rescinded his health order that prohibited nonpublic schools from opening for in-person instruction until after Oct. 1, 2020.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, the County, whose public schools will be remote offerings for the coming semester, recently sought to disallow in-person offerings in nonpublic schools as well, acting through its Health Officer.

Today’s decision followed the new policy announced yesterday by the State Department of Health prohibiting the blanket closure of nonpublic schools.

According to a County press release:

Today’s new Health Officer Directive and Order regarding public, private and independent schools, dated Aug. 7, 2020, is effective immediately and rescinds the order dated Aug 5, 2020.

The Health Officer continues to strongly advise schools against in-person learning due to the risks posed by COVID-19 and has asked that the Department of Health provide articulable criteria to be used in determining acceptable and safe levels of activity in schools.

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