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Masks requirements dropped for Ohio University campuses in CDC “Low” level communities

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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) – Ohio University is aligning its masking policy further with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations, per an announcement from the University on Thursday afternoon.

A cardboard cutout of Rufus Bobcat wearing a mask outside of College Bookstore in uptown Athens.
A cardboard cutout of Rufus Bobcat wearing a mask outside of College Book Store in uptown Athens from 2020. [WOUB photo | Michelle Rotuno-Johnson]
Effective immediately, OU masking requirements match the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels for the county in which the campus is located. If the community is listed as “High” by the CDC, masks will be required in all indoor public spaces. If the community is “Medium”, masks will be required in classrooms, laboratories, studios, clinical settings, other learning spaces and Child Development Centers. If the community is “Low” masks will be optional on campus.

“Low” or “Medium” communities may still require masks at OU in clinical healthcare facilities, COVID-19 testing facilities and public transportation. Additionally, students, faculty and staff who test positive or are exposed to COVID-19 must follow OU masking guidelines

The Athens community is listed as “Low” by the CDC, as such, masks are optional on most of OU’s campus, as are the majority of it’s regional campuses including: Cleveland, Dublin, Easter, Lancaster and Zanesville. The Chillicothe Campus and the Southern Campus are currently both listed as “Medium” by the CDC.

Community level information will be updated each Friday on OU’s Mask Policy page and email announcements will go out if a community level changes.

The CDC determines community levels based on hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in the area.

The masking update comes less than a month after OU announced a more relaxed mask policy that only required masks in classrooms, laboratories, studios, clinical settings and campus transportation.

In the latest announcement, signed by OU’s Chief Medical Affairs Officer Dr. Ken Johnson and Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations Dr. Gillian Ice, the two reminded the OU community that some may still choose to wear a mask despite the lifted requirements.

“Those who prefer to wear a mask are encouraged to do so. Please recognize that our classmates and colleagues who have chronic illnesses or who live with someone who has a high-risk medical condition may choose to mask regardless of community level,” they wrote.