In an email to students Friday afternoon, Saint Mary’s COVID response team co-chairs Mona Bowe and Shari Rodriguez shared updates on the College’s masking guidelines.
According to the email, effective immediately, students are no longer required to wear masks outdoors in groups of less than 25 people. Masks will continue to be required for all students and employees gathered indoors, except when in a private residence hall room or office, the message said.
Mask-wearing is still recommended for unvaccinated individuals who are outdoors in groups of any size, the email added.
Bowe and Rodriguez noted the College made this decision following updated guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for vaccinated people.
“Earlier this week, the CDC issued new guidance on masking when outdoors,” the message said. “While it is clear that masks continue to be the single most effective way to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, being outdoors does help to minimize transmission of the virus.”
