After a recent surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the district, East Liverpool Schools announced that all students and staff will need to wear masks while inside of school buildings beginning on Monday.

Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig said that the school district has had 18 new cases in the past week since Thanksgiving. The district said that the board and administration would reinstate their mask policy if districtwide cases reached 14 in any given week. 

Ludwig said the decision will be revaluated on a weekly basis.

"We make decisions based on the latest medical data and guidance that is available," Ludwig said in an announcement to district families. "It is our goal to provide the most effective learning environment possible, which we strongly believe is in-person instruction."

East Liverpool Schools reminded district families that if anyone in their home was positive or awaiting a COVID-19 test result, they should keep their children at home and contact a school nurse.

The district said they are committed to providing real time updates to their COVID-19 dashboard.