Originally published August 22, 2023 8:40 am PDT
Morris Brown College, a private institution in Atlanta, has announced that it will re-impose a mask mandate for students and employees.
This decision, coming just a week after the commencement of classes, is in response to the rising number of COVID-19 cases among students in the Atlanta University Center, despite no cases reported on Morris Brown’s own campus.
President Kevin James communicated the decision to the college community through a letter.
Highlighting the precautionary nature of the move, he said, “We prioritize your safety and seek your cooperation in preventing another pandemic.”
For the upcoming two weeks, the college will not only be enforcing mask-wearing but will also be introducing temperature checks upon campus entry and prohibiting large gatherings or parties.
Additionally, the college has encouraged students to practice physical distancing.
The Atlanta University Center, of which Morris Brown is a part, comprises several other historically Black colleges and universities, including Morehouse, Spelman, and Clark Atlanta University, according to a local report.
Interestingly, Morehouse’s website mentions that their current COVID-19 alert level remains at green, which denotes “prevalence of the virus is minimal.”
This level is determined by various factors, including the recent number of cases both on campus and in the surrounding community.
COVID-19 infections in Georgia have seen a surge over the past three weeks, coinciding with thousands of students making their way back to campuses in Atlanta.
The rise in cases follows at least a majority (69%) of Georgia residents already receiving a COVID vaccine as of May, raising questions about the vaccine’s efficacy.
Despite this rise, overall infections and hospitalization rates in the state remain relatively low, according to the report.
Neighboring institutions, Georgia State University and Georgia Tech, which both started their academic sessions on Monday, have so far decided not to alter their COVID-19 protocols.
Dr. Benjamin Holton, senior director of Stamps Health Services at Georgia Tech, commented on the recent rise in cases at the institution.
He remarked, “People come together and bring viruses with them. There’s a lot of commingling, and it spreads from person to person, so we typically see a bump at the beginning of the semester. So far, that dissipates relatively quickly.”
Meanwhile, Emory University is set to start its academic year this Wednesday, continuing with its “standard operating conditions” in terms of COVID-19 precautions.
Students are being advised to self-monitor for potential symptoms and adopt practices such as frequent hand washing and covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Rutgers University is requiring students to abide by a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
The mandate says there will be no exceptions.
New Jersey’s population is already more than 77% vaccinated against coronavirus, raising more questions about the vaccine’s ability to mitigate COVID transmission.
Major Hollywood studio Lionsgate, headquartered in Santa Monica, California, is also reinstating a mask mandate.
