Morris Brown College (MBC) in Atlanta, Georgia, has announced that it will implement a mask mandate for all students, faculty, and staff during the upcoming 2023 fall semester.
The decision was made in response to several cases of COVID-19 reported at the Atlanta University Center (AUC), a consortium of historically black colleges near MBC.
Dr. Kevin James, the president of Morris Brown College, communicated the mask mandate through an Instagram post, stating that the mandate would go into effect “immediately.”
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Although MBC has not reported any COVID-19 cases yet, the college is taking precautionary measures for the next two weeks.
In addition to the mask mandate, other safety measures will be implemented on campus. Students must continue to practice social distancing, all large gatherings have been canceled for the next two weeks, and anyone entering campus premises will have their temperature taken.
The college will also follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols for COVID-19 positive cases, requiring affected students and staff to quarantine for five days.
Morris Brown College has had a COVID-19 vaccine requirement in place since 2021 for individuals accessing campus facilities and programs in person. The policy remains in effect for admitted students, with exemptions available for religious and medical reasons.
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The announcement of the mask mandate comes as health officials monitor new strains of the COVID-19 virus. Despite the presence of new strains, COVID-19 hospitalization levels have been significantly lower compared to the peak of the pandemic.
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