On July 21, 2021, the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education issued a joint statement indicating the Public Health Order requiring masks be worn inside of school buildings will not be renewed beyond July 25, 2021. Their decision affords local school divisions the authority to " ... implement local mask policies based on community level conditions and public health recommendations."
Accordingly, the following will guide the use of masks for all King George County Schools to begin the 2021-22 school year.
- King George County Schools will not require students and staff to wear masks during the school day. However, the school division strongly encourages students and staff who are not fully vaccinated to wear a mask until they are able to be fully vaccinated. This recommendation is particularly applicable to our pre-school and elementary-aged students since a vaccine is not yet available for this age group.
- Students and employees who ride or operate school buses or school division transportation must wear masks since this is a mandate of the CDC's federal order requiring masks be worn on public transportation.
- As the VDH/VDOE joint statement recommends, we will continue to monitor local health conditions related to COVID -19 transmission and will be prepared to adjust the masking guideline if necessary.
- Masking is just one of several layered mitigation strategies King George County Schools utilizes. Other strategies include new air ionization systems in all schools and school buses, distancing to the extent possible, emphasized cleaning and hand washing, and contact tracing.
As a reminder, Governor Northam and Virginia's Health Commissioner Dr. Oliver both urge all eligible Virginians to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities. For assistance with obtaining a vaccine, please visit
https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/