COVID-19 Update: CDC Guidance on Mask Use

May 13, 2021

Dear University community members:

There is joy and exhilaration on campus among those of us who are fully vaccinated.

Earlier today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted most public health safeguards for fully vaccinated persons, including permission to go mask-free and eliminate social distancing — indoors and out.

However, wecannotleap to COVID-19 liberation on our St. Louis campuses until St. Louis public health authorities have affirmed the CDC’s updated guidance.

The CDC is very clear: “…except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.”

We expect that St. Louis city public health authorities will address the revised CDC guidance in a matter of days.

Until then, please continue to abide by the practices we announced just a week ago:

• If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask when outside on campus. You are still required to keep a safe, social distance from others.
  • We’re relying on the honor system for affirming your vaccination status.
• Regardless of your vaccination status, face masks and social distancing are still required inside all public spaces on campus, such as classrooms, labs, libraries, etc.
• We ask that students continue to wear masks and maintain social distancing when visiting with one another in your on-campus residences.

Please be patient with St. Louis public health authorities and with us, as we move to put this new CDC guidance for vaccinated persons into motion in the coming days.

And if you haven’t been vaccinated, please do so as soon as possible.

As always, please email us atpandemic@slu.eduwith any questions.

Stay safe and be well,

Terri Rebmann, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC
Special Assistant to the President
Director, Institute for Biosecurity
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
College for Public Health and Social Justice