The University of Idaho is continuing its mask mandate inside all buildings on campus after students return from fall break.
But instead of evaluating the face covering requirement on a three-week basis as it had before, the university will now reassess the policy each week.
The decision to extend the mandate beyond Thanksgiving was made after talks with local public health leaders, according to an email Monday from UI President Scott Green and Provost and Executive Vice President Torrey Lawrence. While UI is keeping its mandate on the Moscow campus in place for at least the next week or so, the university says it’s empowering center executive officers, extension leaders and research center administrators to determine whether masks should still be required in their work areas.
At the university’s extension offices in Kootenai County and Ada County, daily new cases of COVID-19 remain high. Vault COVID-19 testing kits are still available for free on the university’s Moscow campus. The tests can be picked up from noon to 2 p.m. at the Student Recreation Center beginning Monday.
With the end of the semester just a few weeks away, UI is still evaluating whether the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate will affect its employees. And students who work for the university may also be affected. UI continues to have COVID-19 vaccine clinics on campus every week, which are accessible to students, faculty and staff. (Lewiston Tribune)
