Feb. 18, 2022–Effective immediately, face coverings are encouraged but no longer required in all indoor spaces on the campus of Missouri Western State University.
“This University masking policy change reflects several indicators reviewed by the COVID-19 Response Team every week,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, Missouri Western’s president, in an email to campus. “We’ve seen both the positivity rates and the number of positive cases decline on campus and for Buchanan county. Additionally, we’ve seen the same decreasing trend in the local hospitalization rates.”
Masks are recommended for those who are unvaccinated and/or have underlying health concerns.
The University continues to encourage COVID-19 vaccination and will host another vaccine clinic with Heart to Heart International on Thursday, February 24.
The COVID-19 Response Team will continue to meet weekly to review data and adjust mitigation strategies, including the campus face covering policy, as warranted. The team reviews campus and community vaccination rates, positivity rates, and local hospitalization rates, among other data points, and is continually guided by the best available science-based evidence and expert recommendations in order to make informed decisions about campus activities.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.