News File Photo The B-House wing in Alpena High School is seen in this News file photo.

ALPENA– After going several weeks without a mask mandate, Alpena Public Schools will require everyone to wear a mask while in schools beginning Tuesday.

In a press release Sunday, the school system says all K-12 students, employees, visitors, and vendors, unless they have a documented medical exception or if wearing a face mask would not be consistent with a student’s Individualized Education Plan, must have facial coverings that shall be worn during the school day and all indoor, afternoon or evening, school-related events.

The school system is making the move to help avoid a full transition to remote learning because of the spread of COVID-19.

Thunder Bay Junior High School was remote last week due to a staffing shortage due to COVID-infections, quarantines, as well as other illnesses. The number of students being forced into quarantine is also on the rise.

To date, 29 COVID-19 infections have been confirmed and 232 students are in quarantine because of close contact with an infected individual.

“We do not make this decision lightly,” the release says. “In making this decision, we have considered guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, our local medical professionals, and other leading health organizations.”

The school system says it collaborates on a regular basis with the local and regional health departments to assess the risk of community and school spread of COVID-19 and will continue its partnership with the health department to continually assess the necessity of a universal mask mandate. For families who feel an alternative educational environment is the best option, please visit our website to access the late registration form for APS Online, the release said.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.