(New Buffalo, MI) - When school begins next week in New Buffalo, everyone has to wear a mask inside the buildings. The same is true for all schools in Berrien County.

The Berrien County Health Department issued the order in response to rising COVID-19 cases. According to Berrien County Health Department officials, case numbers in the county have gone up for six consecutive weeks, and the order is needed to keep kids in all grades levels in classrooms.

Health department officials said the mask order would be lifted once the local transmission is low to moderate for 21 consecutive days.