COVID Campus Update, July 30, 2021
Greetings,
As we continue to plan for the fall semester with the majority of our courses and services offered in person, we are reminded that this pandemic is not over. We have recently seen an increase in the Delta variant of COVID-19 in our region and rising infection rates.
On Tuesday, July 27, the CDC updated its interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people in response to increases in COVID-19 cases. The new guidance recommends that both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals wear a mask in public indoor settings if they are in an area of substantial or high transmission. While Blue Earth County briefly entered the “substantial” category, as of today, the CDC COVID Data Tracker shows Blue Earth County and Mankato’s surrounding counties currently at a “moderate” level of community transmission.
Therefore, at this point we are not instituting a face covering requirement on campus for fully vaccinated individuals. However, unvaccinated individuals are expected to continue to wear a face covering in public indoor settings. As we continue to monitor the CDC data for sustained trends indicating “substantial” community transmission, we as a campus must be prepared to adjust our mitigation strategies, including a pivot towards new face covering protocols, as consistent with CDC guidance.
I also strongly encourage students and employees who have not already been vaccinated to do so. There are vaccination sites across Minnesota, and many are allowing walk-ins without appointments. If you need assistance finding a vaccination location, please contact Natalie Schuette at natalie.schuette@mnsu.edu.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will update you on changes as necessary. If you have any questions, visit our COVID-19 website or email provost@mnsu.edu. Students who need assistance with services may contact the Student Affairs Office at student-affairs@mnsu.edu or (507) 389-2121.
Please continue to practice safety measures and do your part to keep our #MavFam safe.
Sincerely,
Edward S. Inch, Ph.D.
President
