AKRON, Ohio — Editor's Note: The above video is from a previously published story
As the countdown to the start of the 2021-22 school year continues, the University of Akron has joined several other Ohio colleges in instituting a mask mandate in response to the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Effective on August 9, everyone at the university will be required to wear a mask/face covering in indoor public areas across all of its campuses. The only exceptions are for private offices and residence.
The changes comes as Summit County has moved to a “substantial” level of COVID-19 transmission. Medina County, Cuyahoga County and Wayne County have already risen to the level of substantial spread and similar county-wide advisories have been issued for each.
Masks/facial coverings will also continue to be required outdoors for unvaccinated individuals when they cannot maintain social distancing.
UA says it will continue to monitor conditions and guidance from the CDC, the State of Ohio and Summit County and adjust masking protocols as needed. Even if conditions improve and return to low or moderate levels of community spread and the University relaxes masking protocols, faculty and instructors can continue to require the wearing of masks or facial coverings in their individual classrooms.
Here are the other Ohio colleges and university that have updated their mask mandates in response to the higher number of COVID-19 cases:
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