Bledsoe County school officials say the mask mandate there for students and teachers will stop Friday (May 14, 2021) after end of the year testing will be completed. This comes after the board of education approved a recommendation by Director of Schools James Ellis calling for the last two weeks to be without facial coverings.

As of yesterday (May 11, 2021) the Tennessee Department of Health says the county has 25 active remaining cases of COVID-19.

Other systems, including Cumberland County, will keep the mandate in place until the end of the school year late this month. As of yesterday, Cumberland County reported 71 active cases of the coronavirus.