Oh how I have longed to write this note. Effective Saturday, February 26, 2022, Challenge Aerial will be mask-optional for students, teachers and guests. This decision is based on CDC’s new recommendations along with other factors, including:
- A significant decrease in COVID-19 community transmission in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. This downward trend is expected to continue.
- A decrease in notifications from students, teachers and families of positive COVID tests or exposures
- Your diligence in adhering to our masking and COVID mitigation policies.
Please note a few things:
- If you or a family member is immunocompromised or has underlying medical conditions, I encourage you to consider continuing to wear masks if you feel you are at risk for exposure. There will always be masks available at our front desk.
- Instructors have final jurisdiction. They are aware of the concerns and conditions that their students face, and if an instructor decides that their class will be masked, then masks will be worn by all students. We are a community that supports and celebrates one another and we will always go the extra mile to keep a fellow classmate safe.
- As a public health professional, I will continue to watch the COVID trends and will immediately and unapologetically reinstate a mask requirement if it is necessary to ensure our communities’ health and well-being.
- You are still expected to wash your hands before practice and clean your mats when are you done with practice. Now that we have these healthful habits ingrained in us, let’s not lose them.
Breathe deep and exhale fully. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces in class this week.