(Danville,VA) – The School Board for Danville Public Schools at a regular session on Thursday evening voted unanimously (7-0) in favor of guidelines mandating teachers, staff, students at all grade levels, and visitors to wear facemasks.

Coming on the heels of a COVID 19 updated earlier in the day by Virginia Governor Ralph Northam who announced vaccine requirements of all state personnel by September 1^st. The Governor suggested school districts as well as private businesses consider a similar approach.

Danville Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston said the school system would continue to suggest getting vaccinated and make vaccines available to students and staff but would not require it at this point.  The school system will be putting a clinic in at George Washington High School and mobile units from PATHS will make rounds to all school sites in the days and weeks to come.  Any student under the age of 18 will need the approval of a parent or guardian to obtain a vaccine.

The new guidelines are as follows:

• All staff, students and visitors will wear masks.

 Students will maintain a 3 to 6 feet physical distance.

 Desk/face shields will be used.

 Cafeteria shields will be installed.

 Frequent hand sanitizing.

 Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized regularly.

 The COVID-19 daily dashboard on our website will be reset with the new school year.

 Contact tracing will be conducted immediately upon notification of a positive case.

 Hygenica machines will be used to sanitize the schools.

We will have more information as it becomes available.