New Mask Guidance from Health Department and CDC
Dear PLU Community,
This week, the CDC, Gov. Jay Inslee, and the Tacoma–Pierce County Health Department announced their recommendations that individuals who are vaccinated mask indoors in some circumstances to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant in Washington, including in Pierce County.
As community members concerned about our role in public health overall, we encourage vaccinated Lutes to follow this guidance and mask up whenever you are in public indoor spaces or are unaware of the vaccination status of those around you. Masks add another layer of protection to what vaccination has already given you, so whether you’re vaccinated or not, masking up helps prevent transmission.
Reminder: Masks are required for all currently unvaccinated people in indoor settings (except in dining spaces while seated, or alone in an office with the door closed) and crowded outdoor locations where physical distancing is not possible. This is a consistent requirement at PLU, whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, visitor, or vendor.
Dates to submit your vaccination information
For community health and safety, and for PLU to return to anything resembling a more normal, in-person campus experience this fall, it is a requirement that all PLU students, faculty, and staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Students: PLU requires all students—except students in online-only programs—to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before arriving on campus for the fall semester, with case-by-case exceptions made for medical or religious/right of conscience reasons. For participation in Fall 2021 classes and activities, students must submit their documentation or file for an exemption with the Health Center by August 1. If your vaccination series will not be complete by August 1, we will still accept your documentation. Remember that you must be fully vaccinated by the time you arrive on campus for move-in, athletics, student employment, or other activities. View the FAQ for more information.
Faculty and staff: The PLU employee vaccination policy can be found here. Employees should submit vaccination verification or file for an exemption no later than August 24.
We are all PLU together, and we wish each of you a safe and restorative summer.
In community,
Allan Belton
President
Dr. Joanna Gregson
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dr. Joanna Royce-Davis
Vice President for Student Life
Teri Phillips
Chief Operating Officer and COVID-19 Site Supervisor
Elizabeth Hopper
Director of the Health Center
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