Dear Warriors,

Prior to the start of the fall semester, we instituted an indoor mask policy for our campus community. Our initial hope was that by Sept. 15, the combination of a highly vaccinated campus environment as well as a downturn in cases in the area would allow for the removal of the mask policy.

While we have taken great strides toward a completely vaccinated campus population, we continue to see increased numbers of new cases across the state, as well as positivity rates of more than 5% in our region. Wayne County — and Michigan as a whole — are currently identified by the CDC as areas of “high” transmission, where masks are recommended indoors at all public places as an additional layer of protection, even for those who are vaccinated. To keep our community safe, we will continue to require masks inside all campus buildings. We will revisit this requirement in four weeks and use the latest data to make further decisions.

On-campus incidents of COVID-19 have been low, largely due to our community’s cooperation in following health and safety requirements. While these measures are not always convenient, they have helped us return to in-person classes and events in a way that keeps our campus safe. Please continue to check our coronavirus website for real-time updates on campus requirements, and thank you for your commitment to the health and safety of the Wayne State community.

Laurie M. Lauzon Clabo, PhD, RN, FAAN

Dean and Professor | College of Nursing

WSU Chief Health & Wellness Officer

Wayne State University | 5557 Cass Ave., Suite 100 | Detroit, MI 48202

(313) 577-4104 | laurie.lauzon.clabo@wayne.edu

RWJF Executive Nurse Fellow Alumna