University of Wyoming to Lift Requirement for Masks Indoors

For the first time this school year, University of Wyoming students can breathe more freely, as the Board of Trustees lifts most of its mask requirements.

On Wednesday, Feb. 16, the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees held their monthly meeting. The board lifted nearly all the campus’s mask requirements during that meeting after a board vote.

“We continue to recommend masks as a way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community but, by action of the board, we are moving to a new phase in the pandemic that will not include a mask requirement in most indoor spaces, including classrooms,” U.W. President Ed Seidel says. “Those who choose to continue wearing masks have the board’s and the university’s full support.”

Masks will not be required in most indoor venues on campus, effective Feb. 21.

For the entirety of the 2021-2022 school year up to this point, masks have been required in most indoor venues, specifically classrooms, and spaces where six feet of social distancing was not possible. The exceptions were voluntary public events, private events, and anyone participating in sports or fitness.

Masks are still required inside specific facilities at the University of Wyoming, regardless of the recent changes. The common feature between these facilities is possible contact with or proximity to those most vulnerable to a severe reaction to COVID-19.

• W.’s Early Care and Education Center
• W. Transit Service buses (following federal rules, which still require masks on public transportation)
• All medically related units.
  • W.’s Student Health Service
  • W. Athletics’ medical clinic area
  • Family medicine residency clinics in Casper and Cheyenne
  • The Albany Community Health Clinic in Laramie
  • The Speech and Hearing Clinic
  • The Psychology Clinic
  • The Counseling Center
  • The COVID-19 testing area.

The University of Wyoming continues to hold vaccine clinics on campus to control the ongoing spread of COVID-19.

U.W.’s Student Health Service will hold a COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinic Friday, Feb. 18, from 9-11 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. U.W. continues to strongly recommend COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, which have been proven to be highly effective and safe — and effective in preventing severe illness and hospitalization, even with the Omicron variant.

As of Monday, Feb. 15, there were 14 active cases of COVID-19 among the U.W. community — six students on campus, three students off-campus, and five employees. The prevalence rate in U.W.’s testing program — which continues with random-sample testing of 3% of on-campus employees and students each week — was 5.1%.