The New England Journal of MedicineLifting Universal Masking in Schools — COVID-19 Incidence Among Students and Staff

Massachusetts ended its statewide requirement for all students to wear masks in public schools in February 2022, and numerous school districts in the state later relaxed their masking regulations. Only the Boston and neighboring Chelsea districts in the greater Boston area maintained masking requirements through June 2022. In the 15 weeks following the cancellation of the statewide masking policy, there were an additional 44.9 COVID-19 cases per 1,000 students and staff in school districts in the greater Boston area.