University of Texas at Austin will require all students, faculty and staff to wear masks inside

[TexasTowelie]

University of Texas at Austin will require all students, faculty and staff to wear masks inside campus buildings

by Raga Justin


The University of Texas at Austin will require all students, faculty and staff to wear face masks in campus buildings next fall to prevent the spread of COVID-19, interim Dean Jay Hartzell announced Monday.

UT-Austin appears to be the first university in the state to implement a mandatory face mask policy for the fall semester. In an email to the UT community, Hartzell said students and faculty may remove their face coverings in a campus building if they are alone in a private office or in their residence hall room. Masks will be encouraged in outdoor areas of campus, and enforcement measures will be announced later. The university is also planning to test asymptomatic individuals and routinely screen people for symptoms as they enter buildings on campus.

"This policy — which is currently in place for the summer — is consistent with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which makes clear that face coverings, in addition to social distancing measures, are among the most effective strategies in limiting the spread of COVID-19, particularly in high-density areas," Hartzell said in the email.

Hartzell said employee furloughs have begun, but the university did not immediately provide details about how many people were affected.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/08/ut-austin-masks-reopening-fall-furloughs/

[Karadeniz]

1. Sensible. Glad they're taking a stand.

[redstatebluegirl]

2. I wish ours would do that, but they won't.

The politics here won't allow it. The students do not have to wear masks it is "voluntary". Imagine a 60 year old professor standing in front of 100 students who aren't wearing masks, who spent last night in a crowded party. It is a nightmare waiting to happen. I guess it is a way for the University to get rid of older faculty and staff.

[Gothmog]

3. This is a good move