Three Positive Cases: Universal Indoor Masking Effective Immediately
Pennsylvania Hall (Photo Aly Leia Wein/The Gettysburgian)
By Nicole DeJacimo, Managing Editor
Today, Vice President and Dean of Students Anne Ehrlich emailed the campus community to re-enact the campus-wide indoor mask mandate for every student, regardless of vaccination status. In the past 24 hours, three more students have tested positive, after finding six positive cases related to one student group.
The only exceptions to the masking mandate when vaccinated students are in their residence halls, when a faculty or staff member is alone in their private office, and when someone is eating. Visitors, those who are not Gettysburg College students or staff members, are not allowed in residence halls.
This week, nine students contracted COVID-19, pushing the college to bring back the mask mandate they lifted just a few weeks ago. The College encourages students who are noticing any COVID-19 symptoms to go to the Health Center for a free test as soon as they can.
While the email references the necessity to re-evaluate any large event that may cause more transmission, it did not specify how this new policy will affect the Swing Dance originally planned for tonight. Similarly, according to Assistant Director of Student Activities and Greek Life Trevor McClenon, fraternity parties will require an invitation list this weekend. Until further notice, the College will not allow open parties.
Dr. James Day, director of the Sunderman Conservatory of Music, announced that after conferring with Vice Provost Jack Ryan, the College will allow a single vaccinated conductor or soloist to remove their mask, or perform without bell cover for wind players, while conducting or performing in a performance or rehearsal. The other individuals in the room must be masked, and the soloist or conductor must be six feet away from other collaborators and at least 15 feet away from the audience. There will be multiple senior recitals this weekend that will follow these guidelines.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to include the update about performing without a mask from the Sunderman Conservatory on Nov. 12 at 4:35 p.m. (~P. Doscher)
