Beginning July 30, the University of Illinois will require all faculty, staff, students and visitors to wear a face-covering inside university facilities.
The announcement comes just days after new CDC guidance that recommends face coverings for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, in an attempt to curb the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant.
“Even though our campus community is making good progress in mitigating COVID-19 impacts with our vaccination and testing participation, Champaign County remains among those areas with concerning levels of transmission,” Chancellor Robert J. Jones wrote in a Mass Mail Thursday.
Additionally, the University released the following criteria:
- For all individuals, a face covering does not have to be worn when eating or drinking, when alone in an office or room with the door closed or when alone in a vehicle—essentially, when you are alone in a private space.
- Individuals with a medical condition or disability that prevents them from safely wearing a face covering may seek a reasonable accommodation. Students needing an accommodation should contact the division of Disability Resources & Educational Services, and employees (including student employees) needing workplace accommodations should contact the ADA Division of the Office for Access and Equity.
- This requirement is limited to face coverings only. There are no new social distancing or capacity restrictions at this time.
- Unit plans for the return-to-on-site operations are not impacted by this new face covering requirement.
- Individuals who witness unsafe COVID-19 behavior by a student or employee may submit their experiences here: http://go.illinois.edu/COVID19-report. These reports are reviewed by Student Affairs and Illinois Human Resources, who will also manage any necessary follow-up.
The University will follow the ongoing recommendations of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department.
“Vaccinations and our comprehensive testing program are the most powerful tools we have available to let us come back together as a University and community, and the surest way to avoid setbacks like this latest return to face coverings. We are fortunate that vaccinations are readily available in our community to individuals who are 12 or older. You can find information about where and how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination shot here. As I said earlier, the virus continues to impact all of us. But together, we can help our entire county and community navigate these challenges,” Jones added.
