Stevens’ mask policy

With Omicron cases on the decline, college campuses across the nation are taking everything they’ve learned over the past two years to implement post-pandemic policies. The CDC “continues to recommend that you wear the most protective mask you can that fits well and that you will wear consistently” and highlights that “any mask is better than no mask.” However, mask mandates have been dropping gradually locally and throughout the country. Hoboken lifted its mask mandate on February 9, removing the requirement for businesses to mask indoors. On March 7, NJ public schools and child care facilities will remove their mask mandate, allowing school districts and parents to choose whether or not to continue masking children. 

The Stute reached out to Dr. Sara Klein, Assistant Vice President for Students Affairs, and Mr. Warren Petty, Vice President for Human Resources for information regarding any potential changes to Stevens’ COVID-19 policies. Klein responded that “Stevens leaders are having conversations with various campus constituencies—as well as continually seeking expert guidance from health professionals, including our Health Advisor, Hackensack Meridian Health—to determine whether the masking policy should be revised in the coming weeks. We will share any changes in policy with our community as soon as decisions are made.” Stevens’ current policy is that masks are required indoors, except when eating or drinking, and vaccinated lecturers are allowed to unmask as long as they are six feet from students. Stevens does not have a requirement on which type of mask to wear, though the policy does state that a “cloth mask alone does not appear to provide strong protection against the Omicron variant.” Klein points to information from the CDC that shows “vaccines and boosters are the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the Omicron variant.”

Johns Hopkins University has decided to keep its mask mandate despite local masking mandates being lifted on March 1, 2022. Johns Hopkins requires N95, KN95, KF94, or a double layer of surgical and cloth masks to be worn at all times indoors and distanced seating is required for meals. Conversely, Louisiana State University removed their mask mandate on February 10, stating “Masks are not required indoors or outdoors, but are still encouraged.” LSU samples 25% of the unvaccinated population weekly and monitors wastewater to find where COVID-19 is most prevalent. The CDC developed the National Wastewater Surveillance System in September 2020, as wastewater surveillance captures the “presence of SARS-CoV-2 shed by people with and without symptoms” serving “as an early warning that COVID-19 is spreading in a community.”

Stevens mask policy is in place with students’ best health in mind. Klein reminds the campus population “Students must remember that some members of our community are immune-compromised or at a higher risk for severe disease. Although the majority of our students are young and healthy, it is important to remember that masking is not only for our own benefit, but it is for the benefit of others in our community.”