Throughout the pandemic, UNC has looked to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in determining policies and protocols to help keep our students, faculty, staff, and visitors safe and healthy. As increasing numbers of people are vaccinated, guidance from public health authorities on masking and other efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is changing to allow us all to return to a more normal way of living and working together. In following recent changes, beginning today, UNC will no longer require individuals to wear masks indoors or outdoors on any of our campuses. Per state guidelines, masks will still be required in the UNC Student Health Center.
The current vaccines available for COVID-19 have proven highly effective in preventing infection and the spread of the virus. Members of our community who are concerned about their safety are encouraged to get vaccinated and/or wear a mask.
We ask all Bears to remember that many in the campus community will choose to continue to wear a mask and it is important to honor and respect one another’s decisions. When engaging with others, please consider asking them about their preference on mask wearing to ensure visitors and colleagues are comfortable. Given that there are occasions when wearing a mask may still be appropriate, even though it is not required, we encourage members of our community to continue to carry a mask with them.
Private events on campus such as summer camps may impose mask requirements for their participants on a case-by-case basis.
This policy is effective through the summer term. Decisions on requirements for the fall semester have not yet been made, but will be influenced by conditions in the coming weeks and months, including the percentages of UNC students, faculty, and staff who have received vaccines, infection and test positivity rates in our community, and current guidance from public health authorities. We will continue to communicate changes throughout the summer and as we prepare to return to campus this fall.
