The Hermiston School District announced that fully vaccinated individuals may attend district events without wearing a mask.
The announcement comes following the release of clarified face covering requirements by the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).
ODE guidance states:
• Fully vaccinated students, staff, volunteers, and spectators are not required to wear
face coverings at outdoor events.
• Fully vaccinated students, staff, volunteers, and spectators are not required to wear
face coverings at indoor events, when vaccination status is checked by the school in a
manner described by OHA in guidance.
For all events, until additional updates are provided, all previous physical distancing and
capacity restrictions still apply.
ODE updated its Ready Schools, Safe Learners document with face covering requirements for school outdoor, indoor, and school board gatherings:
Outdoors: Students, staff, volunteers, and visitors are not required to wear face
coverings outdoors (including, but not limited to outdoor physical education; outdoor
music and recess; and arrival & dismissal). Until additional updates are provided, all
RSSL physical distancing and other related requirements still apply.
School Staff Indoors: Fully vaccinated staff are not required to wear face coverings or
physically distance inside school buildings when students are not present (such as
before and after school or on weekends) only when vaccination status is checked by the
school.
School Board Meetings Indoors: Fully vaccinated staff, school board members, and
community are not required to wear face coverings or physically distance inside at
school board meetings if children are not present only when vaccination status is
checked by the school. Most children in Oregon are not yet vaccinated, and school board meetings are open to the public, including students and children.
“Wearing face coverings is a personal decision,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tricia
Mooney. “Individuals are welcome to continue wearing masks on our campuses, but we are
pleased to offer fully vaccinated guests the opportunity to not wear a mask, with proof of
vaccination.”
A fully vaccinated individual is defined as an “individual who has received both doses of a twodose COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine and at least 14 days have passed since the individual’s final dose of COVID-19 vaccine.” These individuals may attend an HSD indoor or outdoor event without having to wear a mask if they can provide proof of vaccination status, meaning “documentation provided by a tribal, federal, state or local government, or a health care provider, that includes an individual’s name, date of birth, type of COVID-19 vaccination given, date or dates given, depending on whether it is a one-dose or two-dose vaccine, and the name/location of the health care provider or site where the vaccine was administered.” Proof documentation may include, but is not limited to, a COVID-19 vaccination record card or a copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card.
