Masks Required To Start School Year In Prince William County

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — Masks will be required to start the school year in Prince William County. According to a letter sent to parents on Monday, students, staff, and teachers will all be required to wear masks during instructional periods, regardless of their vaccination status.

The new mask guideline is announced as concerns about the delta variant of the coronavirus grow across the country. In recent weeks, the Pentagon has announced increased mitigation measures, and Fairfax County's school system implemented a similar mask mandate.

Read more: Face Masks Required For Start Of Fairfax School Year

For parents in Prince William County, the announcement from new Superintendent LaTanya McDade arrived in their inbox on Monday morning. "Safety will remain top of mind for everyone, for caregivers and families, for educators and staff, and for all of us across Prince William County," McDade wrote.

This year, the default option for students allows for five days per week of in-person learning. However, a fully virtual option is also available for students. Students will be able to switch from virtual to in-person learning when they are ready, the school system said.

"My commitment is to the safety of all students, teachers, employees, and families," McDade said. "And we are committed to limiting disruptions to student learning caused by quarantines or illnesses, as well as ensuring we have the staffing necessary to avoid shuttering classrooms or schools."

Masking will be required for students and staff regardless of vaccination status, with some exceptions. Vaccinated staff members will not need to wear masks when there are no students present or at the county's central offices. No staff members will be required to wear masks while eating or while outdoors.

The county said that some exceptions for students are also available, including those whose disability may prevent masking. In the letter, the superintendent emphasized that masking will reduce disruptions due to quarantines, reduce staffing impacts, and allow time for vaccines to be approved and become available for more students.

"Many of us are experiencing pandemic fatigue and a real desire to return to normal," McDade wrote. "However, we are still in this together and will get through this."