Regis University to require indoor masks for first five weeks of classes

Regis University has announced it will require masks in public indoor spaces for at least the first five weeks of classes starting Aug. 18. Masks will be required outdoors during move-in and orientation only.

The mask requirement is a preventative measure to help protect the health of the Regis community as rates of the COVID-19 Delta variant increase in Colorado.

While the Denver vaccination rate is at 70 percent of eligible residents and among the highest in the country, the region is experiencing a high rate of viral transmissions, and those who are unvaccinated remain at great risk. In the past six months, 96 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Colorado were of people not fully vaccinated, according to local public health officials.

Masking provides an extra level of protection as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports it is possible for vaccinated people who are infected with the Delta variant to spread the virus to other people. This is attributed to the higher viral loads found with a Delta variant infection.

Regis University is requiring students, faculty, staff and vendors to be vaccinated this fall. While the faculty, staff and vendor vaccination rates are presently near 90 percent, the student rate is just below 70 percent and rising, but it is still too low to achieve herd immunity due to the very high infection rate for the Delta variant.

Since more than 10 percent of students and 5 percent of personnel have requested vaccine exemptions for medical or religious reasons, community masking will help protect this group from becoming infected or spreading infection on campus. To further protect the community, unvaccinated people will be required to take a weekly COVID-19 test. People who are partially vaccinated or have an exemption should continue to wear a mask beyond the 5-week requirement.

The University will offer an on-campus vaccine clinic on Aug. 23 with a second shot clinic on Sept. 17, which will be combined with a flu shot clinic. Unvaccinated people are encouraged to get vaccinated for their safety and that of the community.

Mask requirement summary:

• Indoors and outdoors August 18th, 19th and 20th for Regis move-in and welcome days.
• Indoors for all people for the first five weeks, unless exempted below.

Mask requirement exemptions:

• Non-public spaces such as individual residence halls and private offices. However, unvaccinated persons are advised to wear a mask in public and private indoor spaces. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask in exempt spaces should be allowed to do so freely.
• Children under the age of 2 and people who have medical exemptions from wearing a mask.
• Vaccinated instructors who maintain a minimum of 6 feet of distance while teaching.
• Individuals who are playing a musical instrument or singing in a class.
• Individuals seated while actively eating during meals.