CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Twenty-four school systems in West Virginia will be on all-remote instruction next week, according to the COVID-19 School Alert Map released Saturday evening by the state Department of Education.
There are six systems in the “red” highest-spread category including Jackson, Wood, Marshall, Mineral, Hardy and Berkeley counties. Thirteen designated as “orange” including Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Ritchie, Wirt, Mason, Putnam, Cabell, Wayne, Boone, Wyoming, Hampshire and Jefferson counties.
Five other counties, although allowed to have in-person instruction according to the map, have opted for all-remote learning. Those include Wetzel, Nicholas, Clay, Upshur and Grant counties.
Update: The November 21, 2020, Saturday Education Map is below. You can also view at https://t.co/lSu7Fi4R58.
For more info: https://t.co/4g9jWiKY0S
Thank you for your patience as the WVDE website may load slowly for some visitors. pic.twitter.com/r4gYKjh9Go— West Virginia Department of Education (@WVeducation) November 21, 2020
Some systems already have the week because of Thanksgiving while others will have a previously scheduled abbreviated week.
The increase in remote instruction counties comes after a significant increase in COVID-19 cases statewide during the past week. The state has added more than 1,000 new cases a day 4 of the last 7 days.
The map results once again disappointed several high school football teams who saw their seasons end without being able to play including the Martinsburg Bulldogs who have won four straight AAA titles.
The map is out. Seasons end for:
Martinsburg
Spring Mills
Spring Valley
East Hardy
TolsiaSunday games will be played:
Tygarts Valley at Pendleton Co.
Elkins at RCB
Midland Trail at St. Marys#wvprepfb pic.twitter.com/kQOz54Rnx0— MetroNews HS Sports (@MetroNewsPrep) November 21, 2020
The COVID-19 Data Review Panel which begins reviewing the cases each week with a midnight Thursday deadline announced the following changes Saturday evening:
· Barbour County: Moved from orange to gold due to data validation and three duplicate cases removed.
· Grant County: Moved from gold to yellow due to data validation and seven cases updated to with the correct county of residence.
· Morgan County: Moved from orange to gold due to data validation and one case updated to with the correct county of residence.
· Ritchie County: Moved from gold to orange due to data validation and one case updated to confirmed.
· Taylor County: Moved from gold to yellow due to data validation and four duplicate cases removed.