The University of Vermont is stepping up its response to rising Covid-19 case rates.
In an email to faculty and staff sent late Thursday, university officials said that, effective immediately, all faculty, staff, students and visitors would be required to wear masks or face coverings indoors.
“We will continue to monitor the rate of cases on campus, in Vermont, and across the region and will adjust this requirement if conditions warrant,” provost Patricia Prelock and vice president for operations and public safety Gary Derr wrote.
The officials also said they “expect everyone on the UVM campus … to be vaccinated,” but they stopped short of announcing a new vaccination mandate for faculty and staff. The university had previously announced that all students must be vaccinated unless granted an exemption.
“UVM, state, and federal public health and infectious disease experts continue to emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Prelock and Derr wrote. “It is also the most effective way to avoid serious illness and hospitalization, if infected.”
The officials said that Covid-19 testing would continue for asymptomatic students and employees through the COVID-19 Information and Service Center on the first floor of the Davis Center. Appointments can be made through the CoVerified App, and fall testing hours will be posted soon, they said.
Prelock and Derr said that faculty and staff who believe they are positive, have symptoms or were exposed to Covid-19 should not come in and instead get tested through their primary care physicians or the Vermont Department of Health.
“We appreciate your full support and cooperation as we continue to address the challenges of the pandemic,” the officials said in the statement.
The rules apply to all UVM facilities and event spaces, including off-campus spots and retail stores.
UVM’s mandate comes on the heels of Dartmouth College announcing a mask mandate and more frequent COVID-19 surveillance testing.
