The University’s classroom mask mandate will end on Feb. 27, according to a Thursday release from officials.
Officials will still require face coverings in University-operated health care facilities, like the Student Health Center and Medical Faculty Associates, as well as mandate community members to wear a mask for 10 days after a positive COVID test, according to the release. The unsigned release states that officials chose to drop the mandate because of the University’s high vaccination rate and low rates of infection and hospitalization from COVID-19 in the District.
“Although masks will be optional on our campuses, their use is strongly encouraged,” the release states.
The District has a daily average of 64 new COVID cases as of Thursday, according to a New York Times dashboard. DC Health has not classified COVID-19 transmission levels as “high” since late January 2022.
Prior to the announcement, GW was the only “large, urban” university in the U.S. that still enforced a mask mandate, according to a Hatchet analysis of 229 universities.
“Individuals may choose whether to wear a mask based on a variety of reasons,” the release states. “We ask that you respect the personal decisions of others.”
The release states officials will continue to provide free N95 masks at COVID-19 testing centers and the University will maintain its vaccine and booster requirements.
Officials dropped its indoor mask mandate in University-owned or operated facilities in September, but required students to continue wearing masks in instructional settings, health care facilities and University-operated transportation. Officials briefly dropped the indoor mask mandate last April but reinstated the requirement just a week later after a surge in positive cases.
After the mask mandate is lifted, Gallaudet University will be the only university in the District with a classroom mask mandate. The University of the District of Columbia and Georgetown, American, Catholic and Howard universities dropped their mask mandates last year.
