As COVID-19 cases decline, EU drops two-year mask mandate following spring break

The indoor mask mandate is no longer in place as of March 19, after the COVID-19 Task Force opts for a mask optional policy as students return to Elmhurst University after spring break. 

In their March 7 email to the campus community, the COVID-19 Task Force reassured that their decisions derive from government and public health ordinances.

“From the beginning, we have said our approaches will be informed by governmental and public health guidelines and measures supported by science,” writes the COVID-19 Task Force in their March 7 email. 

As these new regulations usher in, EU campus community members have the choice to follow optional mask-wearing, optional testing — previously required for the unvaccinated — self-reporting symptoms, and taking precautions if they’ve come into contact with COVID-19 — mask-wearing, staying home, and getting tested. 

“As we have done all along, the COVID-19 Task Force has monitored governmental and public guidelines (both local and national), the CDC (particularly their new Community Levels tracker), and the science to determine our course of action,” said the COVID-19 Taskforce in an email to The Leader. 

The COVID-19 task force makes suggestions based on their methodology, consulting with other institutions and organizations on campus to garner input on their decisions. 

In their email to The Leader, the COVID-19 task force continued saying, “This has been and is an ongoing process. The COVID-19 Task Force makes recommendations to the President and the President’s Cabinet, as was done in this case.”

The decision to make COVID-19 testing optional was driven from the Omicron surge that resulted, according to the COVID-19 task force, in an increase of protection against COVID-19.

“In addition, the surge of the COVID-19 Omicron variant significantly increased the number of people who had developed protection,” said the COVID-19 Task Force. “Thus, between those vaccinated/boosted and those who had been unvaccinated but exposed to COVID-19 (and developed protection), we made the decision to eliminate any mandatory testing for the general campus community.”

With the optional mask policy beginning March 19, the campus has not been present in its regular capacity because of spring break. As the campus returns, however, students prepare to adapt to these new guidelines on campus with varying opinions on EU’s decision. 

Louis Handke-Roth, EU senior, expresses disappointment at EU’s decision to drop the mask mandate after prior recommendations and enforcement from the COVID-19 Task Force in past semesters. 

“I think the decision to lift the mask mandate is insane, short-sighted, and pandering to the ignorant,” says Handke-Roth. “I live with an immunocompromised individual and the only reasons I felt safe returning to Elmhurst this fall was because the university had such a strict mask policy in place.”

Handke-Roth continues, condemning EU for its decision and how the decision adds stress to his day-to-day life. 

“I am ashamed to be a part of a university that is caving to the pressure of people who believe in prioritizing delusions of convenience or normalcy over safety,” says Handke-Roth. “Seeing so many people go maskless means that I now live in even greater fear of bringing COVID home.”

The protocols outline that masks are recommended, encouraging everyone to follow through as they deem it to be comfortable and safe for themselves.

Megan Engstrom, EU sophomore, feels this mandate is overdue following the Illinois lift on Feb. 28. 

“I honestly feel as though the mask mandate on campus should have been lifted when the state-wide mandate was lifted,” says Engstrom. “I think it is the right move to no longer have the mandate on campus to be consistent with everywhere else in the state.”

The potential rise in cases post-spring break is a concern amongst students who point out poor timing on EU’s end for lifting the mask mandate, noting a risk of exposure to COVID-19.

“I think that it should have been lifted either in the weeks before or a few weeks after [spring break] because now with people traveling back it could raise exposure levels and it probably wasn’t the smartest move,” says Engstrom. 

EU freshman biology major, Natalie Rodriguez, points out a similar suggestion for the mask lifting timeline. 

“I think they should’ve done it sooner, but as long as they keep count of how many students are exposed to it, then I’m not too worried,” says Rodriguez.

Rodriguez continues, pointing out a similar trend coming back to campus during winter break as people were seemingly more relaxed with their mask-wearing. 

“When we came back from winter break no one really [wore] the masks properly anyways, so we’ve been exposed the same I would say. It all depends on preference but I’m okay with it [mask optional] as long as I take care of myself,” says Rodriguez. 

Winter break 2021 saw a global rise in COVID-19 cases, as the Omicron variant became prevalent throughout the U.S. around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, selling out and booking COVID-19 testing across the country. 

With the J-Term return on Jan. 3, the COVID-19 Task Force reported via email 177 COVID-19 cases on Jan. 28. 

The surge in cases over J-Term, alongside the mask lift, has students upset with EU’s decisions as students and faculty return to campus on March 28. Handke-Roth is not optimistic about the safety of this return. 

“Given the inevitable increase in COVID-spreading risk-taking behavior over spring break,” says Handke-Roth, “I really don’t see how these next weeks will be anything other than a nightmarish surge in COVID cases and learning disruptions.”

EU reports only three positive COVID-19 infections on campus as of March 22.