The expected mask mandate begins today on the campus of Saint Cloud State University. The university has issued the following alert:

Beginning Thursday, August 5 all individuals on campus will be required to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status. This requirement will continue until further notice.

The university went on to issue the following statement:

The Bring Huskies Home Team continues to monitor COVID-19 conditions and the escalating rate of infections of the Delta variant. Our goal is to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff while our students as they continue to progress towards their educational goals. Data provided by the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is showing that our county has a  substantial transmission rate of COVID-19. MDH is recommending that indoor masking should be required for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

Earlier in the week, the Minnesota State University System, which includes Saint Cloud State and Saint Cloud Technical and Community College concluded that according to CDC and MDH guidelines, indoor mask requirements would become essential in counties where COVID-19 transmission is considered to be 'substantial' or 'high.

Yesterday the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University joined several other private institutions in Minnesota requiring students, staff and faculty to be fully vaccinated before returning to campus this fall.

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