Decisions on mask requirements for the upcoming school year will be decided by local officials for each county school district.
Governor Jim Justice hosted a press conference on coronavirus response today in Charleston. State School Superintendent Clayton Burch said schools will open with in-person learning statewide.
“We’re starting school in person,” Burch said. “We know our county superintendents along with our health officials have the support of the Governor, the board president but also all the resources the come with that.”
Contact tracing will continue this year combat community spread or to clear potential exposure. Burch also said mitigation of the virus will continue with thorough cleaning and disinfection.
Burch said encouragement to receive the vaccine will continue but mask requirements will be left for local school boards to determine what is best for individual counties.
Governor Justice continued his pleas for Mountain State residents to get vaccinated.
“Everybody get vaccinated, please,” Justice said in his closing remarks.