Updated mask policy and (re)boosting

Throughout the pandemic, we have worked together to support Yale’s academic mission and activities while practicing effective public health measures—and adjusting to changes in those measures as public health conditions and guidance have evolved.

The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines and widely available treatments for those at highest risk have significantly reduced the likelihood of severe illness and enabled us to reengage in the in-person activities that are such an important part of campus life. Accordingly, it is once again time to review and revise our campus public health measures.

In this message, I will provide information on upcoming changes to Yale’s mask policy, based on our assessment of campus conditions. I will also reinforce recommendations related to the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters.

Changes to the mask policy

Now that students have arrived and the semester is fully underway, the number of new cases on campus has begun to decline. Additionally, new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters, recently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are widely available, including through the Yale COVID-19 Vaccine Program (the Yale Program), and provide yet another layer of protection from the most prevalent strains of the virus circulating now.

Based on these considerations, as of September 26, masking will be optional in most spaces on campus and on university transit vehicles, with certain exceptions noted below.

While classroom masking will be optional in most cases, given the wide range of classroom settings and configurations, individual instructors are permitted to continue to require masking in their own classrooms or instructional spaces. In addition, hosts of certain events or gatherings may require masks for attendees. Instructors and hosts may consult the COVID-19 Review Team for advice about masking.

Masking will also continue to be required when:

• visiting health care settings, such as Yale Health and Yale Medicine clinics; 
• experiencing symptoms;
• testing positive for COVID-19 and subject to COVID-19 isolation protocols;
• identified as a close contact of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19;
• required by state or local agencies.

As always, university health and safety policies, including mask requirements, may be modified if public health conditions change.

It is important to remember that high-quality masks, such as those made available through Yale, provide a benefit for the wearer even if other people around them are not wearing masks. Wearing a mask in public may be a good idea, especially when crowds are large, when the adequacy of ventilation is uncertain, or if you are at higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19.  It is also prudent to be aware of CDC’s COVID-19 community levels, not only in New Haven County—where the community level currently remains at Medium—but also at your destinations when you make travel plans.

Masking is welcome anywhere on campus, for any reason, and the university will continue to make high-quality masks available to its community members.

(Re)Boost your booster

As I have written previously, new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available and recommended for anyone over the age of 12 who has completed a primary vaccine series and received their last vaccine dose at least two months ago. Individuals are encouraged to get the bivalent booster regardless of how many previous booster doses they have received.

Faculty, staff, students, and Yale Health members may schedule a vaccine booster appointment through the Yale Program. Boosters are also available at clinics and pharmacies around the state.

Those who receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster outside of the Yale Program are asked to submit that information to the university, as they did with their primary vaccine series and previous boosters. Follow these tips if you need assistance in submitting your information.

As our policies continue to evolve in response to the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable that some of us may feel anxious about changes in guidance. The Campus COVID Resource Line remains available at 203-432-6604 to answer any COVID-19-related questions you may have.

The current phase of the pandemic calls on us to increase our focus on individual risk assessments and personal choices. At the same time, we must continue to show the respect and care for one another that we have demonstrated so consistently over the past three years.

Stephanie S. Spangler, MD
Vice Provost for Health Affairs and Academic Integrity
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
University COVID-19 Coordinator