COVID-19 Supports

Updated 8/25/2022

COVID-19

Throughout the pandemic, administration has been in constant contact and partnership with the Portsmouth Health Department. In addition, PPS has also been following closely all updates and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education.

As such, the procedures below will be implemented for the start of the 2022-23 school year. These plans can be updated at any time based on updated guidance from the health department. Please see the following:

  • Masks will be optional for students and staff in schools and on school buses.
  • Touchless water fountains will be available for all students and staff.
  • Freestanding sanitation stations will remain throughout buildings.
  • Air filtration system inspections will continue to occur on a higher frequency schedule.

In case there is a positive case within a school building or office, those cases will be reported to the Portsmouth Health Department. However, the Portsmouth Health Department will no longer be completing contact tracing for individual cases, which is in accordance with the new CDC guidance. Contact tracing will only take place should there be an outbreak (as defined by the health department) at a school.

If the positive-testing student or staff member was on campus within the past 24 hours, a deep disinfecting team will be deployed to the school or office. Administration will continue to notify staff and families if there has been a positive case at the school or office with a “Notification of a Positive Case in Our Building” message.

Students and staff are encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and continue to receive boosters, as available and appropriate. For more information about vaccination clinics or access to the vaccine, reach out to the Portsmouth Health Department at 757-393-8585.

Again, Portsmouth Public Schools and the Portsmouth Health Department will continue to work closely throughout this pandemic and reopening. If there are any needs to make alterations or changes to the operating schedule, those will be implemented immediately.

For specific questions or concerns, please email [email protected].

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