FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Fort Smith School Board of Education approved a 30-day mask mandate for students, teachers and staff Monday, Jan. 10, night.
The decision follows new data from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) that shows COVID-19 infections are spreading through 97% of school districts' communities in the state.
The 30-day mask mandate will be lifted if COVID-19 cases dip below 50 cases per 10,000 people over 14 days based on the ACHI's decision, the school board announced.
The Arkansas Department of Health reported 4,747 new COVID-19 infections Monday, 58 additional hospitalizations, and 10 deaths. Last week, the state recorded four straight days of record-breaking new cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
Check back for updates to this developing story tonight on 5NEWS at 10 on CBS.