Some US universities, schools reimpose indoor mask mandates

NEW YORK – As coronavirus cases have increased across the United States, some universities and public school systems have reimposed indoor mask mandates on their campuses, a sign that while the academic year may be coming to a close, the pandemic is still not, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The University of Hawaii’s mandate was expanded on Wednesday on its 10 campuses, requiring masks in all indoor spaces except when working alone or where social distancing is possible.

The university said it took the action because nearly the whole state was now in the high-risk category for community transmission under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance.

The University of Delaware cited rising new-case reports and hospitalizations both in its home state and across the nation when it announced its mask mandate would once again include all indoor spaces, effective on Tuesday.

President Joe Biden, an alumnus, is scheduled to give a commencement address at the university on Saturday.

Some public school systems have taken similar steps this week to reintroduce universal indoor masking, including two in Rhode Island, in Providence, and Central Falls.

Both are in a county that was recently classified as high risk, officials from each system were quoted as saying.

The schools in Philadelphia restored their mask mandate on Monday.

When city officials there tried to do the same for other indoor public settings in April, they reversed course after four days, according to the report. (Xinhua)