Masks Required At All AZ Public Universities

Tucson AZ

16 August, 2021

1:32 PM

Description

TUCSON, AZ — University of Arizona will require masks to be worn indoors this fall, where physical distancing isn't possible. Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University will also require face coverings. "We are taking these other measures so the university can remain open," said University of Arizona President Robert Robbins during a Monday morning press conference. He added that the Delta variant poses a serious challenge, but the university can minimize the impact of the variant through mask wearing and getting as many people vaccinated as possible. Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order in June that banned public institutions of higher education from requiring masks, but only if the mask requirement is based on vaccination status. The universities have all made their mask requirements universal, not contingent on vaccination status. During the press conference Dr. Richard Carmona, former U.S. Surgeon General and professor at the the University of Arizona, urged everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. "The best way for us to stop this virus from mutating and transmitting is for everybody to get vaccinated," he said. Without widespread vaccination, Carmona said, there will eventually be a variant that existing vaccines cannot stop, requiring the development of new vaccines.