COLUMBIA, Mo (KMOX) - Mizzou is thanking those who have embraced their COVID-19 protocols but now those requirements are expanding. The university sent an email complete with a list called, "New Outdoor Face Covering Requirements" and "New Indoor Workspace Face Covering Requirements."
The expanded requirements say that everyone must wear face coverings whenever they are on campus, including outdoors and even when they are alone outdoors.
The policy also states that even those who live together, including family members must wear a face covering when they are outdoors together on campus even at the MU Health Care areas. If eating and drinking outdoors, everyone on campus must stay six feet apart and put their masks back on "immediately after consumption is complete."
Students are instructed to report an unsafe incident if you see people in our community not following these rules. The school says these rules will be enforced with sanctions that could include suspension for students and disciplinary action for faculty and staff.
As of last week, the number of confirmed cases continued to rise in Boone County, the site of the University of Missouri. The Columbia Missourian reported that the number in the county topped 2,000, including 500 new cases over the past two weeks.
The requirements for working indoors on campus are as follows:
- WORKING ALONE IN AN OFFICE: You do not need to wear a face covering while you work alone in a private office with the door shut.
- DURING MEETINGS: Always wear a face covering during any in-person meeting, even if seated or standing 6 feet apart. Also, please arrange seating at a conference table so that chairs are a minimum of 6 feet apart, including across the table.
- FACE COVERINGS FOR PUBLIC INTERACTION: Those who have direct contact with the public, whether in a shared working space or alone in a public-facing office space, must always wear face coverings, even when behind plexiglass or other barriers. If you have any questions whether this applies to you, consult with your supervisor.
- WORKING WITHIN SHARED OFFICE SPACE: If you work in a shared office space where you are at least 6 feet away from others, you do not need to wear a face covering while seated at your workspace, but it is highly recommended you do so. You do need to wear a face covering every time you stand up from your workspace, including when standing and working at an adjustable desk, as well as walking to other locations within the office. This requirement applies even when the workspace has a partition of any height.
- WORKSPACES WITHIN SIX FEET: If you work in a shared office space and the distance of your workspace from others is less than 6 feet, even if you have partitions, you must wear a face covering while seated or standing at your desk and at all times while in the shared space. In this case, you will also need to eat in a breakroom or outside. You will not need to wear a mask if you happen to be alone in the shared office for a period of time.
- BREAKROOMS: When individuals eat or drink together indoors (like a breakroom), they must remain at least six feet apart from others and put face coverings back on immediately after consumption is complete.
- Whenever a face covering is required, it must always be kept over your mouth and nose.
There are also new outdoor face-covering requirements:
- Wear face coverings whenever you are on campus, including when you are outside and even when you are alone outdoors. This policy means those who share a household (roommates, family members, etc.) will also wear face coverings when outdoors together on campus. This outdoor requirement will apply to the entire campus, including the MU Health Care areas.
- Whenever a face covering is required, indoors and outdoors, it must always be kept over your mouth and nose.
- When individuals eat or drink together outdoors, they must remain at least six feet apart from others and put face coverings back on immediately after consumption is complete.