Washington County Public Schools students participating in band, music, dance and drama can now lower their masks during a practice and performance.

The Maryland State Board of Education has updated and extended the emergency regulation requiring all individuals to wear face coverings inside school buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Included, however, are new regulations for students enrolled in performing arts:

"Audience members must wear a mask inside school buildings and are asked to distance themselves from others outside their household to the greatest extent possible," a school newsletter states. "Families are also asked to promptly exit performances, pick up their children, and not congregate inside the school building."

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The isolation and quarantine time has been shortened for students and staff that test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed to the virus.

"Students and staff who test positive must isolate and cannot attend school for a minimum of five days from the test date or the onset of symptoms, whichever date is first," the school newsletter states.

Previously, students and staff could return after day seven. 

Students and staff with mask exemptions or individuals who did not consistently wear a mask were required to quarantine for 14 days, regardless of vaccination status.

"Individuals should stay home until symptoms improve, and they must be fever-free without the use of medication for 24 hours," it states. "Upon returning to school, these individuals must wear a mask in all settings, including physical education, performing arts and athletics for five additional days."

Students and staff wearing a mask when they come in close contact with someone with COVID-19 in school still do not have to quarantine, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated.

Individuals who are in close contact with a COVID-positive person while not wearing a mask and are not experiencing symptoms of the virus must still quarantine for five days unless they are vaccinated or have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

"Individuals who are in close contact with a COVID-positive person and are experiencing symptoms of the virus must quarantine for five days, regardless of vaccination or masking status," it states. "These individuals should also seek COVID-19 testing."

Students or staff returning from quarantine must wear a mask in all settings, including physical education, performing arts and athletics for five additional days.

Meanwhile, state regulations outlines metrics or “off-ramps” whereby face masks can again become optional.

On Jan. 5, Maryland's Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review approved the new regulation from the State Board of Education.

The 180-day regulation, which is currently in effect, requires masks in Maryland public schools — unless schools meet off ramp requirements.

The face covering requirement in schools can be lifted locally if one or more of the following occurs:

The method of unmasking depends on the route that a school or district takes:

If 80% of the county population is vaccinated, the district's school board can decide to lift the mask mandate in a public meeting.

If 80% of students and staff in a school are vaccinated, the district superintendent can lift the school's mandate after collecting data from the principal.

If the county is at moderate or low transmission rates, the district superintendent can lift the mandate. The mandate must be reinstated if the county transmission rates rise to substantial or high.

The committee approved the regulation in an 11-5 vote. If it had not approved the new regulation, the previous mask mandate would have expired on Feb. 25.

As of Wednesday, Howard County is the only Maryland county with over 80% of the population fully vaccinated.

The committee's decision comes as some schools in the country struggle to remain open as the omicron variant sweeps across the nation. Current models indicate national infections may have peaked, but hospitalizations and deaths will continue in the upcoming weeks.

Salisbury Daily Times reporter Maddie Aiken contributed to this story.

Sherry Greenfield is the Education Reporter, covering Washington County Public Schools and the Washington County Board of Education. Follow Sherry on Twitter at Sheina2018 or Instagram at beckmangreenfield.