Team,
This week brought another dramatic decrease in our community and on-campus COVID-19 cases. This week’s case count is lower than the Delta peak we saw last fall, and is a nosedive from our all-time high just three weeks ago. I am incredibly hopeful for our future and, like you, look forward to the possibility of future changes to our pandemic requirements.
Following this week’s report, our leadership team met to discuss our future operations, and more specifically examine Idaho State’s on-campus face covering requirement. Since the onset of the pandemic nearly two years ago, our University has closely followed the guidance and recommendations of the CDC and our local public health experts. Currently, the CDC recommends universal indoor masking in areas with substantial or high transmission, which is determined by the number of cases per 100,000 and the test positivity rate. All of the counties where we have an ISU campus are still reporting a high transmission rate of the virus, thus we will keep our indoor mask mandate on our campuses for now.
However, I am very hopeful that, as things continue to improve in Idaho, we may soon be able to announce changes to our on-campus masking requirement. We also recently learned that the CDC is now considering a new benchmark for indoor masks, and an update could be announced soon. As it makes sense and is safe to do so, our University will update our requirements and communicate accordingly. As of now, however, our face covering requirements remain unchanged.
As I have often said over the last two years, thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do. As needed, please continue to allow flexibility in our offices and classrooms, and follow health recommendations and campus policies. Idaho State will remain at Level White on all campuses through at least Friday, February 25.
