SF State to reconsider indoor masking in 2 weeks

SF State decided to reinstitute many of its existing COVID-19 safety precautions across campus, such as their indoor masking and vaccine requirements. This comes months after San Francisco and the state of California removed most of its indoor masking requirements.

Vice President and CFO of Administration and Finance Jeff Wilson explained that SF State took a cautious approach while following CDC guidelines. 

“When San Francisco is in the medium or high level, indoor face coverings are required,” Wilson said.” When San Francisco is in the low level, indoor face coverings are strongly recommended.” 

But if transmissions are low for the next two weeks, then wearing masks indoors would be strongly recommended starting Sept. 6 rather than required. 

In the past two weeks, SF State reported 18 confirmed COVID cases among students and staff, which compares to the city’s weekly average of 180 cases. 

SF State senior Ryan Bouthillier thinks that despite the mask mandate, students will be more relaxed on wearing their masks outside the classroom.

“People are people, they’re just going to be unpredictable,” Bouthillier said. “I mean, you can already see it on campus.” 

Masking appeared to be optional on the first day of the Fall semester as many students chose to not wear masks outdoors. SF State’s current guidance doesn’t allow for eating and drinking indoors except while in designated eating areas.

Athena Rand, a junior at SF State, thinks the university has done well overall with COVID-19 prevention and thinks that future outbreaks wouldn’t last as long as previous years. 

“I don’t feel it’s gonna go back to how it was in the experience of 2020, 2021,” Rand said. “Or at least I hope not.”