UAB maintains mask-optional policy in non-clinical university buildings

Written by 

uab logo covid safety streamAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Data Tracker, Jefferson County is now in the YELLOW (medium community level) category.

UAB public health and infectious disease experts continue to support the university’s mask-optional policy in non-clinical buildings due to several factors: 

  • Hospitalizations remain low
  • The most common COVID variant — while spread easily — often is less severe
  • Vaccines are widely available and largely effective against severe disease
  • The UAB campus community is vaccinated at a higher rate than the community at large
  • Treatments like Paxlovid and monoclonal antibodies now are widely available
  • COVID tests — including free at-home tests — are widely available

“Decisions regarding masking on campus at UAB are more nuanced than ever,” said Jeanne Marrazzo, M.D., director of the UAB Division of Infectious Diseases in the Heersink School of Medicine. “In making recommendations to promote a safe campus, we consider CDC data in addition to other hyper-local factors.”

“Decisions regarding masking on campus at UAB are more nuanced than ever. In making recommendations to promote a safe campus, we consider CDC data in addition to other hyper-local factors.”

Among those factors, Marrazzo says, is the unprecedented access to effective tools.

UAB School of Public Health Epidemiologist Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., says we’re moving into a different phase of managing the pandemic in which we have more knowledge and tools than ever. But she cautions that as many people return to more normal activity, not everyone’s reality is the same.

“From vaccines to masking, individuals can make decisions based on their personal risk factors and comfort levels.” Judd said. “We are currently in CDC's medium community level category and may move into the highest risk category later this month. We will continue to monitor the pandemic and make recommendations to inform data-driven decisions."

We ask members of the campus community to respect the decisions others make and be considerate of others in keeping with our Shared Values.