As we prepare for the start of classes, The D&E COVID-19 Task Force remains focused on evolving local statistics and the overall public health situation. We are confident that together we can remain safe and fully operational with your help and adherence to rules and policies.
We continue to encourage all members of the campus community—students, faculty and staff—to be vaccinated. We must remain cautious in our daily actions and routines. Recent guidelines suggest masking can and should be used to limit breakthrough cases and the spread of the Delta variant even among those fully vaccinated (further supported below). As such, the following policy will be in place for the Fall 2021 semester:
Faculty members or staff may require students in their class or visitors to their office to be masked, regardless of vaccination status, when transmission levels in Randolph County are substantial or high.
As transmission levels in Randolph are currently (8/15/21:1:45PM EST) deemed to be “high”, please comply with requests by faculty or staff members to mask in such spaces.
Remember the campus-wide policy that all unvaccinated persons must be masked and adhere to social distancing requirements at all times.
The campus community will be frequently updated as to the level of transmission in Randolph County and any changes in masking policy will be communicated. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
“To maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.”
