Duquesne University says it is considering dropping indoor mask mandate – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Duquesne University is deciding whether or not to change its indoor mask mandate later this month, according to a campus-wide announcement sent out Friday.

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It’s important to note that the change isn’t official, but the university said it’s “likely” they won’t be required to wear a mask inside campus buildings starting Monday, March 21.

Officials are eyeing that date as it will be a week after students return to campus from spring break.

Administration is asking students to get tested for COVID-19 beginning March 14 so they can see if it’s safe to make masks optional. Testing resources are provided on the university campus.

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Still, the university’s Health and Safety Committee is reviewing contributions from faculty, staff and students, and it’s possible that faculty will have a say in mask wearing even if the policy is changed:

“Due to differences in class offerings and sizes, some faculty have suggested that professors and other instructors should be allowed to request masks in class at their discretion,” the university wrote on Friday. “They suggest that faculty will make decisions based on safety, class interaction needs, physical space and other variables.”

If approved, Duquesne University would follow the trend of local K-12 schools in the area and adjust its COVID-19 response plan. Some schools have lowered mask requirements after the CDC announced last week that they would measure face mask needs based on a tiered system. The CDC’s new guidelines place more emphasis on how COVID-19 is affecting healthcare workers and facilities, rather than counting individual cases.

Duquesne University stressed Friday that regardless of what they ultimately decide to do, they encourage immunocompromised and unvaccinated campus members to dress up.

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They also added that people showing COVID-19 symptoms should follow typical protocols of isolating and wearing a mask if going out while results are pending.