Effective Immediately New Mask Policy!

We are all relieved to see the improving COVID-related trends across the country in recent weeks. While the national trends are welcome news, as one would expect, our focus has been principally on our local area and here on campus. The trends here have also been improving, even though we have lagged many other parts of the country and state. Cases and hospitalizations are down dramatically and according to the Virginia Department of Health, the testing positivity rate is down to about 6%. On campus, we have had only one member of our community test positive in nearly a month. 
Each Friday morning for the last several weeks, the senior staff has reviewed the local and on campus data and discussed the status of our COVID precautions. At this morning’s meeting, the consensus of the group is that we have reached the point where we can prudently relax our masking requirement. We are delighted to report that, effective immediately, we are a mask optional campus. We should all recognize that the COVID threat has not been eliminated. Our other precautions become even more important in the context of this change. Wash hands often, socially distance, get tested if you suspect you have been exposed or you are showing symptoms, and avoid contact with others if you are sick.

Thank you to all the members of our campus community for your diligence over the past two years during this most challenging time. Your responsible behavior helped to keep our community safe. Please continue to take precautions as the COVID situation evolves from this point and we adjust accordingly.