WINONA, Minn. —Cotter Schools lifted its masking requirement. The president of Cotter, Mary Eileen Fitch, said the number of new CoVid cases has rapidly decreased in the past two weeks. “Families who have reported positive cases in their households are overwhelmingly reporting mild or no symptoms,” Fitch said in a letter to parents. Masks now are optional. Only two weeks earlier Cotter had extended its January mask requirement. But now, Fitch said: “We find ourselves in a new moment.” Back when masking was extended, only two weeks ago, 16% of fifth through 12th grade students tested positive. So did 7% of kindergarten through fourth grade students. Also 21 teachers and staff were positive.
