The new school year had barely started in West Virginia when two counties were forced to move courses online temporarily due to a surge in coronavirus cases. Preston County Schools announced this week it was shutting down and students will return to school Sept. 27. In Calhoun County, schools were closed last week because of a high number of absences and students are set to go back today. More than 200 students were placed under quarantine after being in close contact with a positive COVID-19 case. Several counties temporarily shut down in-person learning last month, including Barbour, Clay and Monroe counties in late August. After Gov. Jim Justice said it would be up to local leaders to determine whether masks should be worn in schools, 53 of the state’s 55 counties now require them. The exceptions are in Putnam and Pocahontas counties.