MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Health Department is rescinding its Sept. 20 order that requires Marquette County students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade wear masks in schools, according to a notice on the health department’s website.

The rescinding of the order, signed by MCHD health officer Jerry Messana, goes into effect today.

Ishpeming Public Schools and Gwinn Area Community Schools had switched temporarily to remote learning for this week.

Dr. Bob Lorinser, MCHD medical director, on Thursday issued a statement about the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Marquette county. He said the “metric of real importance” needs to move from cases to the consequences of COVID-19 such as hospitalizations, deaths, long-term COVID and impact of other measures.

The Marquette County Board of Health is to meet at 6 p.m. today in Room 231 of the Henry A. Skewis Courthouse Annex in Marquette. On the agenda is a discussion of mask mandates for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

The Mining Journal attempted to reach MCHD officials for comment but requests for comment were not returned as of Journal press time.