PORTLAND — Students at Saint Dominic Academy based in Auburn and other Maine Catholic schools overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland will not be required to wear masks beginning March 7.

It will be one of the first schools in Androscoggin County to lift its mask mandate.

“Though masks will no longer be required, teachers and students who wish to continue to mask will certainly be allowed to do so,” Marianne Pelletier, superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools, said in a news release. “We chose March 7 to ensure that there isn’t another outbreak or rise in cases upon return to class from the February break that would necessitate the continued use of masks.”

Students at Saint Dominic and other Maine Catholic schools have been masking since September 2020. Classes have continuously been held in-person since then.

“We’ve had a very positive and healthy and productive school experience throughout the entire pandemic, so we’re very fortunate, absolutely, and we hope it will continue to be,” St. Dominic Principal Alanna Stevenson said.

Some Maine public schools may soon follow. Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention Director Dr. Nirav Shah said Wednesday that the state is considering changing its recommendation for universal masking to an optional one if the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline.

“The risk of transmission in schools is tied to the overall level of COVID in the community. As COVID rates in the community come down, the risk of transmission in schools comes down and thus, the need for masking goes down,” Shah said.

Emily Bader contributed to this reporting.

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