NEW CUMBERLAND – The Hancock County Board of Education, during an emergency meeting tonight, became the latest West Virginia county to implement a face covering requirement.

By a 4-1 vote, the school board approved the recommendation of Superintendent Dawn Petrovich to establish a temporary face covering requirement beginning Thursday and lasting until Sept. 30. The requirement will include all students, employees and visitors in all school district buildings and buses, regardless of vaccination status.

The order will be in place until Sept. 30, at which time it will be re-evaluated, with the possibility of an extension if needed.

Brooke County’s school board issued its own indoor face covering requirement Tuesday, which will begin Thursday and last through Oct. 8.