UConn Puts Indoor Mask Policy Back In Place

STORRS, CT — A mask-wearing policy is back at the University of Connecticut for some indoor settings and events through the end of the 2021-22 academic year, the school announced Monday.

According to a letter to the university community from Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Lejuez and Eleanor J.B. Daugherty, UConn's dean of students and associate vice president for student affairs, the mandate was reinstated, "due to a substantial rise in COVID-19 positivity rates both in the state of Connecticut and on UConn's Storrs campus and the potential risk this poses to the remainder of the in-person semester and commencement."

That means a masking requirement is in place for all indoor instructional settings, workspaces, and indoor events exceeding 100 people, effective Monday April 18.

The move applies to the Storrs and regional campuses, the officials said.

Instructional settings include classrooms, labs, studios, rehearsal rooms and clinics.

For employees, masks "should be worn in the workplace, as was the case prior to March 3," according to the letter.

Physical distancing is not required and catering and dining guidance is unchanged and continues to apply to upcoming events and awards ceremonies.

The policy will remain in place through the end of the semester and final exams, officials said.

According to the letter, "The goal of this decision is to protect health on our campuses and to help ensure that the remaining weeks of the semester and UConn’s commencement ceremonies can be conducted in-person. A widespread outbreak that overwhelms university health services and available isolation space could potentially disrupt both."

When UConn, loosened its masking requirements in March, and then again earlier this month, the coronavirus positivity rate in Connecticut was "consistently low" at about 2 percent, UConn officials said. Connecticut entered this week, with a seven-day average of 6.26 percent. Over the most recent seven-day reporting period, there were about 150 new positive cases both on- and off-campus, officials said.

"UConn’s classrooms and workspaces remain extremely safe; resuming the masking requirement for these spaces during a time of rising infection rates further enhances that level of safety," the letter stated. "As always, the university adjusts its public health measures based on circumstances and available data."