Mask requirement set to lighten as cases decrease
Students, faculty and parents are continuing to receive new updates on COVID protocols as cases keep decreasing across both campuses. Masking on campus will no longer be required in all areas on March 19.
On Monday, Feb. 14 the Pandemic Planning Committee announced upcoming changes to CSB/SJU’s temporary masking requirement.
“On Feb. 20 we will move to optional masking in all indoor spaces, except for classrooms, large event spaces and on buses and other transportation,” said Casey Gordon, chair of the Pandemic Planning Committee, via email.
Then, on March 19, masking will be optional everywhere, except on buses, public transportation and in counseling and health services, due to federal regulation. Masking may also be required in indoor performance venues, indoor athletic events and classrooms, based on performance industry guidelines, MIAC and/or NCAA guidelines and faculty or staff choice.
“It’s a little confusing,” sophomore Beth Vescio said on the different stages of masking policy changes. “I sort of feel like I’m deciphering a code.”
The two-stage rollout for these new requirements is based on CDC and MDH recommendations, which support rolling back COVID mitigations in phases, so that COVID numbers can be monitored to ensure there is not an increase in positive cases.
“We currently have had nearly two weeks of sustained positive case counts of less than two new positive student cases per day. That is a stable pattern of low positive cases,” Gordon said.
According to the CSB/SJU COVID statistics website, 413 people have tested positive for COVID-19 this semester. All 413 people are no longer requiring isolation. Campuswide, there is still a 14-day positivity rate of 9.79%.
“We have not had as many students ill, so we have not had as many students visiting Health Services to take a COVID test. Because of the lower numbers of tests being administered, that 9.79% positivity rate looks high even though we do not have any current positive COVID cases among students,” Gordon said.
Some students plan to continue masking despite the easing of the mandate.
“I know that I will be continuing to wear my mask in most public spaces because there are people that I know who are at risk a little bit more than others, and I just want to keep everyone as safe as I possibly can, including myself,” first-year Lizzy Weitzel said. “I hope that we can continue to try and keep each other safe and be mindful of other people and use our Benedictine value of community to try and come together.”
The Pandemic Planning Committee will continue to meet weekly to discuss evolving data, recommendations from the CDC and MDH, and other relevant research around COVID. If another dramatic spike in cases occurs, the committee would need to discuss mitigation efforts, which could include things like temporary masking.
“However, all of the research right now is demonstrating that we are seeing a decrease in positive cases across the nation, so we all remain hopeful that continues to be the case,” Gordon said.
Outside of following masking procedures, the biggest thing students can do to facilitate a healthy environment on campus is to get the booster shot if they are eligible.
“We know that those that are up-to-date on their vaccinations have a lower likelihood of catching COVID, so we believe that will be helpful in decreasing the positive cases and spread of COVID. In addition, we ask that students stay home if they are ill and get tested if they are experiencing any COVID symptoms,” Gordon said.
As of March 1, CSB/SJU is requiring COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all eligible students and employees. There will be a vaccine clinic for those who have not yet received their booster on Tuesday, February 22 in Gorecki Center 120.
“I hope that [these updated masking policies] mean we’re moving in a good direction. We’ve been dealing with this for two years and just moving towards that freedom again is a hopeful thing,” Vescio said.