Update on Our Roll Back Plan
Based on new metrics and CDC guidance, FCPS will now adjust our roll back plan and allow everyone - staff and parents/guardians of FCPS students - to make a choice whether or not they will wear a mask starting Tuesday, March 1.
Dear FCPS Families and Staff,
As we mentioned in our most recent community letter, we have been working with health experts to develop a plan to safely scale back layered prevention measures. The health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority, guiding every decision we make during this pandemic. Our roll back plan uses community transmission data and health expert recommendations to inform our decision-making.
While we continue to see declines in COVID cases across our community, we remain in high transmission and all current layered prevention strategies, including masking, remain in place. FCPS will implement our roll back strategy when the Fairfax County community reaches moderate transmission and remains there for seven consecutive days.
When that happens, the following changes will go into effect:
Masking
Masking will be optional. Universal masking will only be required during high or substantial community transmission rates. There may also be times, such as an outbreak, when some students and staff will be asked to wear masks during mask-optional community transmission levels to protect the public health.
FCPS employees who are not fully vaccinated or are unvaccinated will still be required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of transmission level, as outlined by the Department of Labor and Industry.
Student Screening Testing
Student screening testing will move to a dynamic testing plan. Screening testing will be available during moderate, substantial, and high community transmission to the greatest extent practicable, in alignment with CDC guidance. Screening testing for students will not be offered during low transmission.
Contact Tracing, Isolation and Quarantine
Contact tracing, isolation and quarantine will continue. We will provide updates should the guidance change.
We may need to adjust our layered prevention strategies should the region experience a surge or widespread illness that could impact our ability to safely provide in-person instruction to our students.
Because our plan is based on scientific data, we believe this plan gives us a roadmap to move forward safely. We must continue to respect and serve all our students, including our most vulnerable.
Fairfax County Public Schools
*Given community outbreaks or transmission in schools (i.e. school outbreaks), there may be times when individual schools or subsets of schools are temporarily asked to wear masks during mask optional community transmission levels as a matter of public health.
