New Orleans Public Schools to require masks amid rising COVID-19 case numbers 8 hours 34 minutes 13 seconds ago Thursday, July 22 2021 Jul 22, 2021 July 22, 2021 7:20 PM July 22, 2021 in News Source: WBRZ Share: NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Public School officials are backtracking on their previous plans to let vaccinated students and staff go maskless this fall amid an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases. This fall, all students and staff returning to public schools will be required to mask up, regardless of vaccination status. According to The Lens NOLA, the New Orleans Public School district has made the change that many other states are making to reduce the spread of the delta variant.