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Dear campus community, On May 13, the CDC relaxed guidelines for people who have been vaccinated. In short, fully vaccinated people can now be unmasked indoors and outdoors with very few exceptions and restrictions. The next day, Governor Whitmer announced that the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) also updated its guidelines consistent with the CDC. We also learned that the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is in the process of updating their more restrictive guidelines, and it is likely they will be consistent with those of the CDC and MDHHS. Based on our current knowledge of the science of COVID-19 transmission, I believe the CDC made the right decision to relax their guidelines, and I support the new recommendations. However, the practical limitation in the CDC guidelines is that we do not have the ability to differentiate those who have been vaccinated from those who have not. This information is important, particularly if everyone is unmasked indoors. We need to operate in a manner that protects the safety of every member of our campus community. Therefore, masks will still be required indoors on Wayne State’s campus. Mask wearing outdoors, regardless of vaccination status, will no longer be required. We do ask that people continue to exercise caution and avoid large outdoor gatherings if the vaccination status of all participants is uncertain. Relaxing the CDC guidelines on mask wearing is excellent news and is a very hopeful sign of an active and vibrant fall semester. The key to a fully open and healthy campus is the degree to which our campus community is vaccinated. If you have not yet been vaccinated, I urge you to do so as soon as possible. The Campus Health Center has all three of the major vaccines available — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — and is anxious to assist you in receiving your vaccination. For additional information, please join us in the Town Hall scheduled for Tuesday, May 18 at 3 p.m. I look forward to seeing you all on campus soon—unmasked. Regards,
M. Roy Wilson
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