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Ohio University scales back mask policy ahead of fall semester
By: WOUB News Team
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio University revised its mask policy ahead of the 2022 fall semester to roll back where masks would be required if the county in which the campus is located reaches the CDC’s threshold for a high COVID-19 community level.
Masks will only be required in classrooms, laboratories, studios, clinical settings, other learning spaces and the Child Development Center when the county where the campus is located reaches a high community level, according to a release Tuesday.
This was previously the requirement for when the campus’ county reached a medium level and replaces the previous guidance that required masks in all indoor public spaces when the campus’ county reached a high level.
If the community is “medium,” masks will be recommended in classrooms, laboratories, studios, clinical settings, other learning spaces and the Child Development Center. 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.
CDC guidelines look at three metrics to determine COVID-19 community level: new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.
Community levels are updated by the CDC Thursday evenings and OU updates its campus levels on Fridays.
Face covering exceptions on campuses where masks are required based on COVID-19 community level:
– Children under 2 years old.
– Any person while actively eating or drinking.
– In settings where it is not practicable or feasible to wear a face covering such as when receiving dental treatments or while swimming.
– Where working with equipment or in a process where wearing face coverings are impractical or dangerous, as determined by instructors or supervisors.
– People who, due to extraordinary circumstances, claim and receive a written exemption from the university’s face covering requirement through the appropriate university process.
– Employees, students, and visitors with a disability who are unable to wear a face covering and do not receive an approved exemption may request reasonable accommodations through the Office for University Accessibility.