The University of Virginia’s requirement that all people wear masks when inside a UVA-owned or -leased facility will continue through the remainder of the fall semester, but with new exceptions for certain activities at Intramural-Recreational Sports facilities and several for-credit performing arts disciplines.
The changes were announced Friday afternoon in a community-wide email from Provost Liz Magill and Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis.
Magill and Davis also announced that the 20th Annual Lighting of the Lawn will be held in-person this year after pandemic conditions required festivities to be conducted virtually last year. The event will be limited to members of the University community.
“These updates are part of our ongoing effort to protect public health, while offering students, faculty and staff as much flexibility as possible,” Magill and Davis wrote. “The threat of the pandemic remains, but our high vaccination rate and low case counts allow us to begin loosening restrictions in targeted areas that will make it easier for members of our community to pursue their studies or other activities important to them.”
Throughout the academic year, University policy has required all people who enter a University-owned or -leased space to wear a mask, regardless of their vaccination status. The policy does not apply to residence halls or personal residences, or when people are actively eating or drinking.
Effective Wednesday, fully vaccinated students, members and guests at IM-Rec facilities will no longer be required to wear a mask while using cardio equipment or participating in group exercise classes.
