ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Prior to the 2022 fall semester, Ohio University updated its mask policy to reduce instances in which masks would be necessary if the county in which the university is located meets the CDC’s threshold for a high COVID-19 community level.

Tuesday’s release stated that masks will only be necessary in classrooms, laboratories, studios, clinical settings, other learning areas, and the Child Development Center when the campus’s county hits a high community level.

This replaces the prior requirement that masks be worn in all interior public venues when the campus’s county reached a high level.

Masks will be suggested in classrooms, labs, studios, clinical settings, other learning spaces, and the Child Development Center if the community risk is “medium.” If the community is “low,” wearing

on campus will be optional.

In clinical healthcare facilities, COVID-19 testing facilities, and public transportation, communities with a low or medium risk may still be required to wear N95 face masks at OU levels. In addition, students, professors, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 or who have been exposed to the virus must adhere to OU masking rules.

New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percentage of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days are used by CDC guidelines to establish the COVID-19 community level.

The CDC updates community levels on Thursday evenings, whereas OU updates campus levels on Fridays.