The presidents of Kentucky’s public four-year state universities, as well as the leader of Kentucky Community and Technical College System, announced together that masks will be required in all campus buildings when school begins later this month.
“After careful consideration of the CDC’s updated guidelines, consultation with public health officials, and the current spike in cases due to the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant, all of Kentucky’s public colleges and universities will require face coverings to be worn in all campus buildings, by both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals,” the presidents said in a joint announcement.
The statement was signed by the presidents of Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Northern Kentucky University, University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University, as well as the presidents of the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
At the University of Kentucky, President Eli Capilouto announced Friday that new campus mask rules will begin Monday.
Capilouto said that regardless of COVID vaccination status, all UK students, faculty, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks indoors. Roughly 31,000 students attend UK where roughly 14,000 faculty and staff work.
Earlier in the week, UK officials asked students, faculty and staff to self-report their COVID vaccination status to the university, and Capilouto said more than 2,000 individuals have done so.
In addition to mandatory masking indoors for all individuals, the university requires unvaccinated students to complete daily health screenings and wear masks outside.
Capilouto also said UK is considering implementing mandatory vaccines and regular testing for faculty and staff. On Wednesday, the university announced that vaccines will be mandatory for all UK HealthCare employees.
UK students are not required to have vaccinations, although it is strongly encouraged.
By Ken Howlett, News Director, and the Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
