COVID-19 THIS WEEK IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY: On Saturday, almost all of Massachusettsâ COVID-19 restrictions become history. Cases, deaths and hospitalizations in Berkshire County and across the state are trending downward amid rising vaccination rates, although some new infections continue to occur. Massachusetts has seen seven-day averages of 339.3 daily cases and 6.9 daily deaths as of Thursday, down from peaks of more than 6,000 daily cases and 170 daily deaths, the nonprofit Covid Act Now said. Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday called the public health crisis that has endured since last March âpretty much overâ before adding that he âwould put an asterisk on anything that says itâs over.â
But some parents, especially in larger, more crowded school districts like Worcester, have mixed feelings on the changes. It s kind of a little worrying, but at the same time, it s good for all the kids that were stuck home all year like my son, said Worcester parent Cindy Rodriguez. Elementary kids, I feel like they should still have masks on, because they can t get vaccinated yet and they re still young, they can still spread it to the elderly, added Kassee Cesaitis, another parent from Worcester.
DESE said conversations about whether elementary school students should wear masks will continue with the Department of Public Health. But as of right now, the plan is to lift masking requirements for middle and high school students in the fall.
The reason? Refusing to administer the state s scheduled standardized test.
On Monday, McCarthy walked into school with a group of 25 other people who support her position as a conscientious objector to the state-mandated administration of the state s standardized test, Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS.
McCarthy said she is willing to be disciplined, including an unpaid suspension, to protest the continued administration of the standardized tests. But both this Monday and on May 21, she was given one day of paid administrative leave for expressing her views.
McCarthy said she told Hull school administrators she would refuse to administer the tests this year in a letter she sent two weeks prior.