Which South Florida schools are now requiring masks and testing as COVID cases rise?

Some South Florida schools are reinstating mask rules as students and staff return from winter break amid a surge of COVID-19 cases.

And the rules vary depending on where you go.

The new mask policies at Miami-Dade and Broward public school districts, for example, apply to adults, not students. A state law signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in November prohibits schools from mandating masks for students.

At South Florida Catholic schools run by the Archdiocese of Miami, everyone is required to wear a mask for protection against the more contagious omicron variant.

Similarly, masks are recommended but not required at public colleges and universities in South Florida. Private colleges and universities, on the other hand, have their own rules, with some schools mandating masks, frequent testing or employee vaccinations.

So, what’s your school doing? Here’s a breakdown of their COVID rules:

COVID mask rules, other policies at South Florida schools

▪ Miami-Dade County Public Schools — All employees, volunteers, visitors, vendors and contractors will be required to wear a mask indoors. That includes bus drivers and spectators attending a school sporting event. Masks are recommended, but not required for students. School is in-person. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ Broward County Public Schools — Masks are recommended, but not required for students and staff. Masks are required for vendors and visitors. School is in-person. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ Schools operated by Charter Schools USA — Masks are required for adults and recommended for students, regardless of vaccination status. Teachers can remove their mask while teaching if they are six feet or more away from students, according to Charter Schools USA. School is in-person. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ Schools operated by Academica — Academica did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

▪ Archdiocese of Miami — Masks are required for students and staff, regardless of their vaccination status or if a parent had requested their child be mask free. School is in-person. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ University of Miami — Masks are required indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Classes will start online only on Tuesday, Jan. 18, and will resume in-person on Jan. 31. Proof of a negative COVID test within 48 to 72 hours of arrival on campus will be required for students, and residential students will also test upon arrival. Vaccination, including the booster, is required for faculty and staff and is recommended for students. Keep in mind that at UM, a COVID-19 booster is now required to be considered fully vaccinated. Students who don’t have the booster must test twice per week.

Florida International University — Masks are recommended indoors, but not required. All students, faculty and staff must complete an online COVID screening questionnaire every time they visit campus. In-person classes will resume on Jan. 10, as planned. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ Miami Dade College — Masks are recommended, but not required. In-person classes will resume on Jan. 5, as planned. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ Barry University — Masks are required in classrooms, labs and large group settings, regardless of vaccination status. People who are not vaccinated are also required to mask up inside all other indoor shared spaces and in other outdoor group settings. Residential students are also required to test negative for COVID-19 within 24 hours prior to their return to housing. In-person classes start on Jan. 10 though most university meetings will be virtual through the end of January.

▪ Florida Memorial University — Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status. All students, faculty and staff must get tested upon arriving on campus for the spring semester, regardless of vaccination status. Then unvaccinated students, faculty and staff must test weekly. Fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff must test biweekly, according to FMU’s spring 2022 plan. Vaccination is recommended, but not required. In-person classes resume Jan. 10.

▪ St. Thomas University — Masks are required indoors for people who are not vaccinated, said Matthew Roche, the school’s associate vice president of Student Affairs & Compliance. Unvaccinated employees will be required to undergo weekly testing. Vaccination is recommended, but not required. In-person classes will start in January, as planned.

▪ Nova Southeastern University — Masks are required indoors and outside, regardless of vaccination status. In-person classes will resume in January, as planned. Vaccination is recommended for students, but not required. All employees were required last year to get vaccinated.

▪ Broward College — Masks are recommended, but not required. In-person classes resume Jan. 5, as planned. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

▪ Florida Atlantic University — Masks are “expected” to be worn indoors, regardless of vaccination status, according to the university. In-person classes will resume in January, as planned. Vaccination is recommended, but not required.

This article will be updated.

This story was originally published January 3, 2022 at 9:21 AM.