Carnegie Mellon reinstates mask mandate

Carnegie Mellon University is reinstating a universal mask mandate for students and staff, effective Aug. 15, CMU Vice President for Operations Daryl Weinert announced Monday.

The announcement, effective two weeks before the start of class, comes as colleges and K-12 schools across the country weigh fall safety protocols amid a rising number as covid-19 infections fueled by the highly contagious delta variant.

CMU is among the first colleges in the region to announce it will require students and staff to wear masks while on campus regardless of vaccination status even as it joins a number of private universities in the region that require students and staff to be vaccinated before returning to campus.

Local public universities have been hesitant to require vaccinations. Thus far, they have opted to offer only strong recommendations and caution that students who do not provide proof of vaccination could be be subject to enhanced covid safety protocols.

Penn State University, where officials marked their second student death due to complications of covid-19 on Sunday, scheduled a town hall meeting Tuesday to discuss fall safety protocols.

CMU’s renewed mask mandate came in the wake of evolving guidance from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week, the CDC, which previously said it was safe for fully vaccinated individuals to shed masks, reversed course, recommending everyone wear masks in indoor settings in viral hot spots and that staff and students in K-12 schools be masked at all times.

Weinert stressed that CMU is acting “out of an abundance of caution,” with regard to the new mask mandate and is relying on the updated CDC guidance.

“ We anticipate this to be a temporary measure as we plan a safe return to campus,” Weinert said. “As always, vaccinated individuals who wish to wear a mask before August 15 are welcome to do so.”