Virginia changes COVID-19 Quarantine, Mask Recommendations for Schools

Governor Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Health have updated COVID-19 quarantine guidance for early childhood education.

The updated guidance on quarantine procedures following exposure to COVID-19 in school, child care and camp settings outlines that quarantine is no longer routinely recommended after exposure to COVID-19 infected individuals in child care, K-12 schools, and camp settings.

Earlier in the year, individuals were encouraged to consider their own risk tolerance and determine what precautions made sense for them and their families. Today, vaccines, tests and treatments continue to be readily available and, at the same time, hospitalization rates are low and the number of Virginians with natural immunity has increased. As such, it is again timely for individuals, families and employers to re-evaluate which precautions are appropriate to them.

“From the first days of my administration, I have supported parents in making informed decisions for their own families, whom they love and know best,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.

“As Virginians continue to return to the office and social settings, the pandemic is disrupting workplaces and family life when entire child care facilities, camps and classrooms shutter in response to as few as two cases. Today marks a shift in my administration’s recommendations to optional quarantine for exposure to COVID-19 in child care and school settings as the severity of the disease decreases.”

While our communities and Commonwealth are learning to live with the pandemic, we recognize that COVID-19 continues to impact many individuals. We are encouraged by our health systems’ continued advancement in both the understanding of, and treatment for, the virus. We will continue to be vigilant about surges or new variants and any impact to our healthcare system.  While maintaining that prudence, Virginia’s communities can, and should, continue on a path to normalcy.

In the Virginia Department of Health’s outline of the latest guidance, anyone who shows symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should still isolate at home. Health officials say wearing a mask through day 10 after isolation will help stop the spread. For those unable or unwilling to wear a mask, VDH recommends a negative test on or after day six before returning to public settings.

View the updated COVID-19 guidance here.