Northam: New guidelines coming to allow Virginia schools to reopen

The Virginia Department of Education is working on new state guidelines for reopening schools to in-person classes, Gov. Ralph Northam said Thursday.

Although the governor said schools are not ready to fully reopen, and it will not be as soon as next week, he said the state will be starting the process. Northam said a faster COVID-19 vaccine rollout is important for reopening schools, but it might not be necessary to get the entire state vaccinated before they can reopen.

“Instead of schools should be closed, we’re going to approach it from the starting point of schools need to be open and here are the ways to do that safely,” Northam said. “The guidance will light a pathway, including how to use mitigation measures in school buildings and how to prioritize students.”

The governor said individual school divisions will make decisions on what is best for them while working with local health departments. He said the guidelines will address needs for students with disabilities and those who are learning English as a second language.

Some health departments have begun providing COVID-19 vaccine doses to the 1B priority group, which includes teachers.

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