By Laurel Duggan
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is requiring students to either wear two masks or wear an N-95 or KN-95 mask on campus during the spring semester despite nearly universal vaccination on campus and mandatory, twice-weekly testing.
The school, which is a global leader on COVID-19 research and public health policy, announced new safety protocols in a Friday email to students emphasizing the surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron coronavirus variant. The single cloth and surgical masks commonly worn on campus no longer meet the university’s mask requirements.
The university reported zero incidents of transmission on campus or in university workplaces when COVID-19 rules were followed. According to JHU, 99% of its students and faculty are vaccinated.
A press release from JHU noted that, with nearly universal vaccination of university students and faculty, the current surge is different from that of 2021, but it went on to explain that the school is imposing a vaccine booster mandate with a Feb. 1 deadline in addition to twice-weekly testing for students. The release acknowledged the relatively low risk the latest variant poses to most students.
JHU will also stop requiring vaccinated and boosted students to quarantine after a “meaningful contact” with a COVID-positive person.
“It is important to emphasize how much better prepared we are to face the virus now than we were when it first emerged almost two years ago. The steps you have taken—vaccination, mask-wearing, testing and more—have contributed immeasurably to the safety of our community,” the email told students. “At this time of higher community prevalence, we ask you to be particularly careful.”
JHU did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s requests for comment.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities for this original content, email licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
Frank,
That is great news
Finally, having a system of testing that would expose the faux poseurs everywhere.
Dem/Prog Politicians would need to find another “cause” to stay relevant
A tsunami is coming that will wipe them out of office in November 2022.
The clock is ticking.
The people are super peed; enough inane craziness is enough
This is not bad news. The seemingly redundant requirements by Johns-Hopkins would create “data” that if accurately and honestly reported bear out that SARS-CoV-2 cannot be eliminated from the US. We need to understand that this virus is endemic and deal with it in a manner that allows society to function.
Should Johns Hopkins successfully eliminate the virus from it’s campus- (remember, accuracy and honesty count)- upon relaxing these mandates the virus will pop up on campus again- showing us that to live with these restrictions is pointless.
While we can smirk at the actions of the J-H administration, the good news is that regardless of outcome- it will prove that the restrictions and mandates will not stop SARS-CoV-2.