Virginia Gov. Youngkin applauds court ruling letting parents opt children out of mask mandates

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is applauding a court ruling Wednesday to allow parents to opt their children out of school COVID-19 mask mandates starting Thursday.

"Today is a great day for Virginia's parents and kids," Youngkin declared Wednesday. "Not only did we pass a bipartisan bill empowering parents to opt-out of school mask mandates, but also the Loudoun Circuit Court reaffirmed parents' rights to have a say in their child's health, education, care, and wellbeing."

The governor filed a request to intervene earlier this month in a lawsuit against Loudoun County's school board. Youngkin had issued an executive order to prohibit mask mandates in schools, and parents sued after the board refused to rescind its mandate. 

"We're excited that Loudoun has reached this decision," Youngkin said. "Importantly, the court ordered that any disciplinary action against students who were punished for following their parents' decision to remove their mask will be expunged from their records."

Loudoun County has enforced stringent COVID-19 mandates since the start of the pandemic.

Last month, a Loudoun County public high school threatened to suspend any students who did not comply with the mask order.