The use of face masks will continue to be required for public school students when they return from Spring Break on April 19. Guam was deemed low-risk last week by the latest metrics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the Department of Public Health and Social Services.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed Executive Order 2022-09, which states that masks will no longer be required outdoors after 14 days of maintaining the low-risk status. But Guam Department of Education deputy superintendent of operations Erika Cruz says face coverings will continue through the end of the school year.

"I don’t anticipate that the use of face masks or the option of face masks is gonna be anytime in the near future," she explained.

Parents’ input is one of the factors as to why GDOE will continue to enforce masks wearing on school grounds. "Well, we want to be able to have the opportunity to speak to our stakeholders specifically our teachers, administrators, staff, and most especially our students and parents," she said. "We want to be able to survey our stakeholders before we make that decision and we feel that we want to remain consistent for the rest of the school year."

Cruz shared surveys have already been sent out to parents for some schools.

"I’d like to encourage parents and let them know that schools have been sending out their surveys and if they can just fill out their surveys basically it is: would you prefer to have your child wear a face mask and it is optional as well and there is a comment section as well," said Cruz.

May 24 is the last day of classes for GDOE students.