(KNSI) – The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University will require masks for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors when they’re inside.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Minnesota Department of Health recommends wearing masks inside, regardless of vaccination status, in any county where the COVID-19 transmission rate is substantial or high. At this time, Stearns County is in the high transmission category for COVID-19.
The temporary mask mandate begins on Thursday for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Exceptions to the temporary mask requirement include students’ rooms, private offices, dining areas when eating, and the outdoors.
According to the CSB/SJU, the masking requirement will be evaluated weekly. Officials will look at the transmission rates in Central Minnesota and on the vaccination rate of the campus community.
Last week, the campuses announced that all staff, faculty, and students be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall.
CSB/SJU says employees should receive their first dose of the vaccine before August 24th, and students should do so by August 26th. CSB/SJU adds that there is an opportunity to be exempted under the state’s Immunization Law.
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