West Liberty University To Go Mask-Optional Indoors Monday
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WEST LIBERTY - West Liberty University will relax its COVID-19 masking protocols starting Monday, making masks optional inside all university buildings.
Those masks will no longer be required inside buildings either on the main campus or at the university's location at The Highlands, though people are welcome to continue wearing them if they choose.
"Our COVID-19 Task Force presented this recommendation to the cabinet based on the fact that it is a reasonable and safe decision to drop the mask requirement due to current CDC and state of West Virginia guidelines," WLU President W. Franklin Evans said. "Of course, those who wish to continue to wear a mask for safety (like myself) are welcome to do so."
Professors also may request that masks are worn as a safety precaution in classrooms as they deem fit. Students enrolled in the health sciences, such as dental hygiene, laboratory science, nursing, physician assistant studies and WLU's speech and behavioral health clinics must follow the mask rule of each health science program.
Students with health conditions which cause them to be immunocompromised may receive an N95 mask in Student Health Services, or in the case of employees, in the Business Office. Both of these offices are located in Shaw Hall.
WLU's decision to forego masks for its general population is, according to the university, supported by the nationally reported slowdown of infection and hospitalizations from COVID-19 and the growing rate of vaccination and boosters. According to the Friday COVID-19 dashboard from the Department of Health and Human Services, there were just 795 active cases statewide, down from 21,717 on Jan. 22.
"We are most grateful to everyone who has assisted us in keeping our campus safe and adhering to safety precautions during the pandemic," Evans added.
Additionally, WLU adjusted its protocol for quarantine and isolation this week in compliance with CDC's best practices. To view the complete protocol document, please visit westliberty.edu/coronavirus.
WLU will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and make adjustments to its safety procedures as needed. For questions regarding WLU's response to the pandemic, please email covid19@westliberty.edu.