Danville, Va. – The Danville School Board voted 7-0 Thursday in favor of a mask mandate for teachers, staff, students at all grade levels, and visitors.

School Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston said the school system plans to continue to encourage vaccinations and make vaccines available to students and staff but will not require a vaccine for attendance at this point.

The school system will establsh a clinic in at George Washington High School to offer vaccines to students, whle mobile units from PATHS will make rounds to all school sites. Any student under the age of 18 will need the approval of a parent or guardian to obtain a vaccine.

Hairston said the local health department has asked the school system to partner on a vaccination program and a grant will cover the cost.

While the vaccine remains widely available, Hairston said “it’s not a lack of access, it’s just the choices people are making.”