The University has further lifted masking requirements for certain settings, Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey ’91 MA’06 announced in a community-wide email Oct. 28.
Masking is now optional for fully vaccinated lecturers and panelists when speaking indoors at events sponsored by academic and administrative departments or by student organizations. This rule expands current guidance that allows lecturers to take off their masks when teaching inside classrooms. Audience members at indoor events must keep their masks on.
Additionally, masking is now optional for fully vaccinated performers — including students — during performances and rehearsals for both group and solo events. Like in lecture events, masking is still required for audience members.
Indoor athletic and recreation activities are now mask-optional as well. This includes inside the Nelson Fitness Center, during club and intramural athletic competition and during varsity athletic practice and competition.
In the email announcing the masking modifications, Carey cited “sustained low positivity rates on campus, as well as high vaccination levels.” The email reminded community members to continue to wear a mask and “cooperate with staff” who work in the libraries, Stephen Robert ’62 Campus Center, dining halls and other settings.
The update to masking requirements follows the lifting of testing requirements for all vaccinated community members Monday — marking a week of significant reductions in COVID-19 measures.
The modifications to testing and masking guidance for those fully vaccinated do not apply to unvaccinated community members, who must continue to test twice weekly for routine asymptomatic testing, wear a mask in all indoor settings and maintain social distancing outdoors.
