With infections on the rise in New York City, some colleges and universities have reinstituted mask mandates for students and teachers, despite the city still not changing its decision on the matter.
As it stands, Columbia University, the affiliated Barnard College, and Pace University have all started requiring masks again in at least some indoor settings. Columbia reinstated mask rules on Monday “based on the current situation and in an abundance of caution,” according to school communications.
Source: NPR Ben Margot/AP file photo
The policy, which requires students to wear non-cloth masks, is expected to remain in place through the final weeks of the spring semester, but, instructors, still have the option to remove their masks while teaching.
According to a school newspaper, Barnard College has temporarily reinstated the requirement in classrooms, dining halls, libraries and other indoor spaces, while Pace University, moved to reimplement its mask mandate in all public spaces on its Big Apple campus effective Monday. Pace officials said events can continue as scheduled and dining halls will remain open, but masks are required when not actively eating.
Meanwhile, CUNY responded to these reinstatements at fellow schools, saying “The University monitors CDC guidelines and regularly consults with our State and City health officials. Should the circumstances require a reconsideration of this or any other policy, the necessary changes to keep the CUNY community safe will be made.”
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