Ridgewater to reinstate mask wearing beginning August 9
August 6, 2021
WILLMAR and HUTCHINSON, MN – Due to the national surge in COVID-19 cases and resulting recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and directives from the Minnesota State system, Ridgewater College will again require all individuals to mask while indoors at both campuses, regardless of vaccination status, starting Monday, August 9.
Ridgewater President Dr. Craig Johnson made the announcement on Thursday. “While increasing the vaccination rate continues to be the priority strategy to battle COVID-19,” he said, “Minnesota State Chancellor Malhotra has issued a system-wide directive that every Minnesota State campus must require all individuals to wear a mask upon entering any campus building where the local county’s COVID case rate has reached or surpassed the “substantial” or “high” COVID-19 transmission level.”
At this time, the COVID transmission rate in both McLeod and Kandiyohi counties is at a level that requires masking for all employees, students, vendors, contractors and visitors. The only exceptions are individuals alone in enclosed spaces like individual offices or study rooms.
Although Kandiyohi and McLeod county COVID transmission levels may go up and down over time, Ridgewater does not plan to go back and forth on the mask requirement. The mask requirement will be in place until officially communicated otherwise.
Fall semester starts August 23 and Ridgewater College will reopen both campuses as announced earlier despite the masking requirement. “We look forward to being back on campus with more students in the classrooms and our Warrior athletes in action,” Johnson said. “While we must continue with requiring masks, we are focusing on the positives in our situation and we welcome the opportunity to engage once again in direct interactions with our students, colleagues and community members.”
To learn more about Ridgewater’s plans for fall semester or to schedule a campus tour, visit ridgewater.edu.