Face Masks Required For Start Of Fairfax School Year

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools will start the 2021-2022 school year with a universal mask requirement for students and staff. The requirement applies to students and staff as the school district prepares a return to five days of in-person learning per week.

Masks will be required indoors and on school buses. They will not be required during eating; and outside during physical education, recess or other activities. FCPS will not require masks for fully vaccinated people in FCPS buildings only without students present. Masks will be required for non-vaccinated people in all places except outdoors. The federal mask mandate for everyone 2 and up on public transportation also applies to school buses.

"Universal masking is a critical factor in ensuring all students can return to our buildings, especially when social distancing is not possible and not all our students are eligible yet for vaccinations," the FCPS website states. "We will be regularly reviewing our masking practices in line with updates to national, state and local health recommendations."

The FCPS mandate comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance Tuesday for vaccinated individuals. The CDC recommends wearing a mask indoors in public in areas of substantial or high transmission of COVID-19. CDC also recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.

The Virginia Department of Health issued new guidance last week leaving the decision up to school districts. However, the state's health department recommended elementary schools implement an indoor mask requirement until vaccination is available for children under 12 years old. Middle and high schools are encouraged to implement an indoor mask requirement for those not fully vaccinated.

FCPS also recommended students 12 and up and their families receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The school district continues to host vaccination clinics in schools in coordination with the Fairfax County Health Department.

The school district is not planning regular testing or students or staff. Those who feel ill or have symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to stay home. The Fairfax County Health Department will continue to provide contact tracing, but updated CDC guidance indicates K-12 students are not considered close contact when wearing masks and following prevention strategies.

More information about the face mask requirement and return to school safety is available on the FCPS website.