Because of recent upswing in the number of active cases
of COVID-19, Calhoun and Boone have been upped to Orange
Calhoun Schools could be closed to in-person education after a COVID-19 spike in the county, placing in the orange category.
That decision will be made Saturday evening, according to Superintendent Kelli Whytsell.
As the number of counties on the state county alert map moving to orange continue to increase, Gov. Jim Justice said any county that moves to orange will not be holding in-person classes.
âEffective now, if you go orange, especially with these numbers, we are not going to school,â Justice said during a news conference Friday.
Justice made his remarks with the latest county alert map showing that 10 counties in the state are now in orange. Kanawha, Putnam, Fayette, Boone, Wayne, Mingo, Logan, Monroe, Pocahontas and Calhoun. Monongalia County remains in the red.
The governor said any county, even if it has been previously in the green and yellow, that turns orange on the state map will not be able to have in-person classes. Counties that already were in orange and remain in the orange also will not have in-person classes.
Justice also said he wants sports guidelines to be tweaked. Orange counties have been permitted to have controlled practices but not participate in sports competitions. He said he would like the guidelines altered so that athletes in those counties would still be able to continue conditioning, but not have face to face contact.
The next county alert system state map that will determine how schools will be handled next week will be released at 5 p.m. Saturday.
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