Some Massachusetts Schools Still Have COVID-19 Mask Mandates

COVID-19 masks may be "so yesterday" for most people these days, but at least three Massachusetts colleges are keeping the face coverings in the here and now.

The New York Post reported that "Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and Hampshire College have all extended their mask mandates indefinitely," and a fourth school, Amherst College, plans to hold a series of votes "in order to determine masking policy on a classroom by classroom basis."

Mount Holyoke's president, Beverley Daniel Tatum, said last week in an open letter to students and staff that "It is clear that the current levels of infection have taxed our campus health care system and residential services to the limit."

Amherst has updated its policy on masking in classrooms. In a statement, school officials advise of a "new masking policy in classrooms, teaching laboratories, and instructional spaces that will go into effect on Monday, October 17."

Get our free mobile app

The statement continues, "Beginning that day, these spaces will either continue to require masking or be mask-optional, depending upon the outcome of an anonymous survey conducted in each class or lab."

Most if not all Massachusetts public schools, colleges, and private universities have done away with mask mandates at this point.

The public college system, which includes UMass Dartmouth and Bristol Community College, continues to require COVID vaccinations for all staff and students.

Fox News reported a number of "elite" universities, including George Washington University, Georgetown University, New York University, Rutgers University, and San Diego State University, "still have some form of an indoor mask mandate in place to combat the spread of COVID-19."