Albany county enacted a mask mandate on November 6th in response to COVID concerns. Students and facility suggest the mask mandate will help slow the spread of the virus.
“I think it is a step in the right direction because it will give everybody a bit of piece of mind. Even though it is not going to put an end to all of this it will help bring us back to our normal lives,” said Allison Dodds, a Physiology Student.
“Early on in the summer, when the University said we have a mandate to wear a mask on campus, the initial reaction was that maybe we were going overboard,” said Chad Baldwin, Associate Vice President of Communications and Marketing.
“I think since that time, public sentiment has changed a lot and in general recognizes the value in wearing masks,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin is part of the Emergency Executive Policy Group that manages the COVID situation. They have been meeting daily since March to evaluate the University’s response to a variety of COVID related issues, including resident floor and athletic team outbreaks.
Baldwin said the University endorsed the Albany county mask mandate the day after it was issued.
“When Albany county put in its mask mandate, it was doing something the university did clear back in the summer,” said Baldwin.
“I’m sure there are plenty of students who don’t like it. Some employees don’t like it either. But I do think, in general, most people recognize it’s the least we can do to stop the spread of this virus”
Dodds said she also knows quite a few people who are opposed to the mask mandate.
“The effect of the mandatory masks on campus has been that campus is a healthier place to be. While the virus still effects campus, the masks, testing, social distancing, limited group size gatherings, and encouragement of good hygiene have resulted in a healthier campus,” said Kim Chestnut, Vice President for Student Affairs.
Chestnut said the Albany County mask mandate will not impact students more than before.
“I would anticipate that there is not a notable amount of inconvenience to following the mandate if they are students who are taking part of on-campus programming and classes this fall, as they are in the practice of wearing masks to be on campus”
Baldwin said off-campus activity likely triggered the Albany county mask mandate.
“I think the outbreak was from the off campus activity. We’ve had lots of students and employees get Covid–it is well over 1000 cases now. It has grown exponentially everywhere, and you can make the argument that the UW campus itself is one of the safest places in the whole state because we have generally pretty good adherence to social distancing and mask wearing”
“There is no question that off campus activity by students and employees alike have contributed to the spread of the virus in the county. The problem with Covid in Albany County would not be as bad as it is if not for the presence of the University,” said Baldwin.
Dodds said students contributed to outbreaks in Albany County.
“Prior to all the students coming back, Albany county seemed to be doing pretty well in comparison to other places in Wyoming. The university has been working to test as much as possible, but it is hard to contain the virus when students and facility are going to and from campus, and all around town,” said Dodds.
