BUCKHANNON — Upshur County Schools is monitoring COVID-19 case data in Upshur County, and the district is aware of the uptick in positive-confirmed cases.

Yesterday, the West Virginia Department of Education confirmed Upshur as a “Green” county. However, we realize that today’s new cases moved Upshur into the “Yellow” category.

Our blended attendance model addresses the requirements for the Yellow risk level. We will pay extra attention to our cleaning and disinfection measures as well as to physical distancing and the use of face coverings in our buildings.

We ask all of our families to do the same. Please monitor your symptoms, and if you have any of the CDC-noted symptoms of COVID-19, please remain at home. We will be sharing graphics via our social media to help families with their decision-making about children going to school.

If you have any of the following symptoms, even just one, please stay home.
• Fever
• Chills
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• New cough
• New loss of taste or smell

Also, please follow any instructions from the Upshur-Buckhannon Health Department or any other public health agency in our region. If you are told to quarantine, do so for the entire period indicated by the health department.

Dr. Sara Lewis- Stankus, Superintendent reports. “Upshur County Schools will support the recommendations and directives of the health department in all instances. We want to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. We truly need our Upshur County families to be vigilant in following these recommendations. Let’s stay Upshur Strong!”

We will continue to monitor case data and work with our public health and state partners. If Upshur County reaches the “Gold” level at any point this week, athletics and extra-curricular activities will need to be altered. We will release information about any changes if and when they occur.