All Kentucky public universities to require masks as COVID cases rise
Presidents from all of Kentucky’s public four-year state universities made a joint announcement Friday that masks will be required in all campus buildings for the fall 2021 semester.
“After careful consideration of the CDC’s updated guidelines, consultation with public health officials, and the current spike in cases due to the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant, all of Kentucky’s public colleges and universities will require face coverings to be worn in all campus buildings, by both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals,” the announcement said.
The statement was signed by the presidents of Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University, as well as the presidents of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
The announcement follows an increase in COVID cases across Kentucky. For example, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department reported 145 new cases on Friday, bringing the total confirmed pandemic case count in that county to 37,535 with 326 deaths.
UK mask rules start Monday
At UK, President Eli Capilouto announced Friday that new campus mask rules will begin Monday.
In an email, Capilouto said that regardless of COVID vaccination status, all UK students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks indoors. Roughly 31,000 students attend UK where roughly 14,000 faculty and staff work.
Earlier in the week, UK officials asked students, faculty and staff to self-report their COVID vaccination status to the university, and Capilouto said more than 2,000 individuals have done so.
He said the percentage of students and faculty vaccinated has hit more than 70 in recent days.
“We have more work to do, but we are making substantial progress in our drive to vaccinate more than 80 percent of the campus early in the academic year,” Capilouto said. “While vaccinations are our best protection — those vaccinated contract the virus far less often than others, and when they do, they are unlikely to get seriously ill — we believe now is the time to add additional safety measures.”
In addition to mandatory masking indoors for all individuals, the university requires unvaccinated students to complete daily health screenings and wear masks outside.
Capilouto also said UK is considering implementing mandatory vaccines and regular testing for faculty and staff. On Wednesday, the university announced that vaccines will be mandatory for all UK HealthCare employees.
UK students are not required to have vaccinations, although it is strongly encouraged.
This story was originally published August 6, 2021 at 10:39 AM.