On Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m., families of St. Louis U. High were notified of a change to the school’s Covid response policy. Beginning on Monday, the school shifted from Condition 3 to Condition 2, signaling most notably that the school would move from masks required to masks recommended.

Over the summer, the administration outlined the Covid response plan for the 2021-2022 school year in an email to families. The plan defines four conditions to easily allow the school to pivot between different response categories based on Covid positivity rate trends within the school and in the greater St. Louis region.

“We started the year in Condition 3 based on those metrics,” said principal Ian Gibbons. “We've been evaluating very carefully what at what point if we could shift, potentially down to Condition 2. And our numbers have been very very low.”

The school began the year in the Condition 3, which dictated that all persons on campus must wear a mask when indoors. The plan stated that when the school had a large number of the student body vaccinated and a regional positivity rate of less than 10 percent, and R₀ less than 1.2, then the school would shift to Condition 2. Currently, 90 percent of students and 92 percent of staff are vaccinated, and the regional positivity rate is 4 percent. A defining quality of Condition 2: masks are no longer mandatory, but recommended.

“We are doing an amazing job in the region and at SLUH,” said Gibbons. “We've had one case in 19 days, which is simply remarkable, and a testament to the strong commitment our community has had. So, you know, by all of those metrics, that was the plan.”

After the announcement, members of the school community began questioning if the school was defying the city’s mask mandate that went into effect on Oct. 3. Administrators interpreted the Health Commissioner's Order No. 3 as saying that the mandate only applies to public places such as a library or restaurant and that SLUH does not qualify as a public space.

“We are a closed community, and everyone who is in this community has to go through a strict process for screening them daily,” said Gibbons. “We know their vaccination status. We know that they're willing and able to comply with our safety policies, and that's restricted to the building.”

After the announcement was made in Gibbons’s weekly Parent Connect, students immediately began discussing the new policy and sharing their thoughts about SLUH going mask recommended. 

“I enjoy the new mask optional policy, I think it is a good way to start out a new quarter and bring some new life to the school,” said sophomore Charlie Gray. 

“I am really happy that SLUH is letting students choose if they want to wear their mask or not because I know that a lot of people have different opinions about masks and coronavirus and so I think this was just a really good move by the administration,” agreed freshman Gregory Clemons.

While many students expressed their joy at being able to discard their masks, the announcement was met with sharp criticism from a small group within the student body.

“I feel that, although a lot of people were excited to get their mask off, and I kind of felt the same way last year, looking at where the school is now, I feel like the numbers were low because of masks,” said sophomore Courtney Lucas. “I feel like that doesn't exactly mean that the next step should be to remove masks, because that was the main procedure that was keeping the numbers down.”

Outside of the student body, teachers began to also weigh in on the administration's decision to switch to a mask recommended policy. Some voiced support for the change, while others voiced concerns in regards to their personal health and well-being. 

“I agree with it 100 percent, even though I am still wearing a mask,” said theology teacher Dick Wehner. “I just got my third Pfizer yesterday, so I've got my booster. I believe in the science. I believe it's been tested. I think it ensures that I have a high level of tolerance now.”

“I've got a bad heart valve which concerns me, mostly because I've got stage four cancer, and I get treatment every three weeks,” said science teacher Bill Anderson. “It makes me a little bit more vulnerable, as somebody who already has health issues. Also this morning I was at the doctors and I looked at all the people around me that are in way worse condition than I am. Thinking about the possibility of carrying something from here with all these unmasked individuals into a setting like that is terrifying.”

With tensions rising in the school Monday, many students felt caught within the culture wars, unable to fully comprehend how they should personally address the new policy announcement. 

“At first I thought it was a big change, and a good change at that,  but I kind of see both sides now,” said senior Jack Feise. “I know a lot of my friends are strongly for and strongly against the new policy but at this point I am unsure.” 

“I want to wear my mask, but sometimes I feel pressured to not wear it and feel awkward if I have it on,” said sophomore Declan Richards. “We either have to put ourselves at risk to fit in, or feel really awkward wearing a mask and sometimes people make fun of you if you have a mask on.”

Despite some criticism and confusion swarming the school, many students are appreciative of the sense of normalcy that the change in policy has brought. Many feel that the change allows the school to feel more connected and personable. 

“I feel like it has broken down another barrier that has prevented me from really connecting with other people,” said senior Sam Quinvilan. “There is something just really nice about seeing people smile in the morning. While the policy might have its drawback, I think overall it is positive.”

“The mask optional policy brings back nice nostalgia to my freshman year,” said junior Daniel Irvine. “But it is also a weird feeling to see students without masks and not wearing one around the building.”

While the transition will undoubtedly be awkward or difficult for members of the SLUH community, the decision to go mask recommended is based solely on data points and not student or faculty opinions.

“We've lost our ability to talk about safety and rational ways that we, as a community, can protect ourselves in regard to public health,” said Gibbons. “Are there going to be people that are upset by the wearing of masks or not wearing masks? Probably, but that sentiment has been out there for quite some time.”