BUCKHANNON — On December 4, 2021, Upshur County’s status on the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) County Alert System changed to the Gold level. Under the Green, Yellow, or Gold levels, there is no face covering mandate within schools.

The change is effective as of Monday, December 6, 2021 and will remain in effect for as long as the county is at a Green, Yellow, or Gold level. To review the WVDHHR County Alert System Map and receive updates related to COVID-19, visit www.upshurschools.com.

There are benefits to wearing a face covering. Upshur County Schools continues to consider mask usage and vaccination status when making decisions about isolation and quarantine. If a student or adult is not fully vaccinated or not properly wearing a face covering while in contact with the positive individual, that student or adult will have to quarantine.

Face coverings are always required while on school buses, regardless of the County Alert System color status. School bus operations are still considered public transit by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whose order requiring masks is still in place. Vaccination remains the single most effective way of controlling the pandemic, and Upshur County Schools encourage all families to strongly consider vaccination.

We will continue to monitor the WVDHHR County Alert System map and ask that our families do so, as well.