CHARLOTTE N.C. — As the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board extends its mask policy for at least a month, the county’s health director is hinting at recommending lifting the countywide mask mandate soon.

What You Need To Know

Mecklenburg County Health Director Raynard Washington says if COVID-19 infections continue to decline, he may recommend dropping the mask mandate as early as Wednesday

The county’s seven-day percent COVID-19 positivity rate is 15.7% as of Sunday. That’s down from 20.3% on Feb. 7

County commissioners are expected to discuss the mask mandate during Wednesday night’s meeting

Mecklenburg County Health Director Raynard Washington says COVID-19 infections are declining, and if that continues, he may recommend ending the county public health rule that requires masks indoors and in schools.

The county’s seven-day percent COVID-19 positivity rate is 15.7% as of Sunday. That’s down from 20.3% on Feb. 7.

Dana Hoegh-Guldberg’s daughter and son attend South Academy of International Languages in Charlotte. Both of Hoegh-Guldberg’s children are learning Mandarin as a second language.

“[My son] loves speaking, and he loves trying to have conversations with anybody he sees that speaks Mandarin,” Hoegh-Guldberg said.

Hoegh-Guldberg, an airline pilot, is excited to hear about the possibility of Mecklenburg County’s mask mandate lifting.

“In my opinion, it’s way too late,” Hoegh-Guldberg said. “South Carolina, Florida … they’ve been doing it for a long time … why are we so late to come to the conclusion?”“In my opinion, it’s way too late,” Hoegh-Guldberg said. “South Carolina, Florida … they’ve been doing it for a long time … why are we so late to come to the conclusion?”

She is one of a handful of parents who spoke at the CMS school board meeting on Feb. 8 pushing leaders to make masks optional.

“At this point, what are we doing? Why are we doing it?” Hoegh-Guldberg asked.

She claims masks are causing long-term harm and interfering with nonverbal communication for her kids learning a foreign language.

“Mandarin is incredibly difficult,” Hoegh-Guldberg said. “There’s four sounds or tones for each vowel … and it’s really important to be able to see somebody’s mouth and to hear it clearly.”

The school board decided to extend their mask policy for at least a month. But once the county eventually lifts its mandate, Hoegh-Guldberg hopes CMS follows suit.

“Immediately,” she said. “Send out an announcement dropping the mask mandate as well.”

While studies show masks are effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19, Hoegh-Guldberg believes it should be everyone’s choice.

“I would love for children, whose parents want them to wear masks, to continue to wear masks,” Hoegh-Guldberg said. “And if the teachers feel safer then that’s prerogative as well.”

While school board member Rhonda Cheek says evidence increasingly points to making masks optional, other board members say they’re hearing from teachers and parents that masks make them feel safe.

Juan Torres Munoz, the board’s student adviser, says many students feel the same way.

“Contrary to what many parents believe, many of the students believe that masks should still be enforced as it makes them feel more comfortable going to school and ensuring that we can keep in-person learning, which benefits all of us,” Torres Munoz said at the Feb. 8 school board meeting.

County commissioners were expected to discuss the mask mandate during Wednesday night’s meeting.