MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - As infection and hospitalization rates from COVID-19 decrease, West Virginia University will lift mask requirements for individuals across all campuses in indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status, effective immediately. However, the University will continue to require masks in all classrooms, labs or any WVU System facility or building being used as a classroom.
Masks also will continue to be required on the PRT and WVU buses under federal guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration.
Masks will continue to be required for all persons in all indoor locations of the Health Sciences Campuses. Additionally, WVU employees and students involved in patient care, including residents, fellows and students, may be required to follow separate WVU Health System or other clinical provider’s policies, including those related to COVID-19, such as masks, PPE and vaccinations.
Masks will also continue to be required for those conducting and participating in face-to-face human subject research activities.
“At the start of this semester, given what we knew about the emerging omicron variant, we felt it was crucial to implement several measures to limit the potential spread of COVID-19, including a universal mask requirement,” said Dr. Jeffrey Coben, dean of the School of Public Health and associate vice president for Health Affairs. “With numerous key data sources now indicating that cases are significantly declining across the state and within our community, we feel comfortable relaxing the mask requirements outside classrooms, labs and clinical areas. We will continue to monitor the data as we proceed through the spring semester and will make changes accordingly. As always, we encourage our students and employees to continue to wear a mask if preferred, regardless of vaccination status, especially in areas where physical distancing is not possible, and to get fully vaccinated and boosted as soon as you are eligible to receive a booster.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to recommend for those who are not vaccinated or those with weakened immune systems to wear a mask in all indoor settings as well as outdoors where large groups are gathered. For maximum protection, the CDC continues to recommend that individuals wear the most protective mask that fits well and that will be worn consistently.
Potomac State College – To follow are free vaccine sites in Keyser:
- CVS Pharmacy, 45 South Mineral Street, (304) 788-3443
- Med-A-Save Pharmacy, 818 South Mineral Street, (304) 788-6010
- Walgreens Pharmacy, 839 South Mineral Street, (304) 788-5931
- Walmart Pharmacy, Located in the Walmart Supercenter, 148 US Route 220, (304) 788-8170
- Mineral County Health Department, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 541 Harley O. Staggers Drive by appointment, (304) 788-1321
Vaccines continue to be readily available across the state and country.
Potomac State College -- COVID-19 testing schedule
Regarding COVID-19 testing, the local Mineral County Health Department is offering the community free COVID-19 testing as follows:
Mondays
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Church-McKee Arts Center parking lot
Wednesdays
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mineral County Health Department
541 Harley O. Staggers Drive
Keyser WV 26726
Community testing through the MCHD is open to Potomac State College students, employees and residents of Mineral County. Individuals who wish to be tested must bring identification (a driver's license or proof of address) to the testing site. Face masks and physical distancing are required.
For personal safety and the safety of others, students and employees should not ignore symptoms of COVID-19; those with any symptoms of COVID-19 should not report to campus for work or class.
All WVU community members are required to report if they test positive for COVID-19 or are quarantining due to suspected or known exposure to COVID-19. In Keyser, students should report their positive results to Pscstudentexperience@mail.wvu.edu, while employees should report their positive results to CareServices@mail.wvu.edu.
Testing information for students and employees at WVU Potomac State College can be found on the WVU Keyser Return to Campus site.
Stay informed
The University’s public dashboard updates testing and isolation data every Wednesday by 2 p.m. Vaccination verification rate updates are also available biweekly Wednesdays at 2 p.m. for the Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser campuses.
New information also will continue to be shared in PSC-ENEWS for employees and via MiX to students.
Questions related to COVID-19 and WVU’s health and safety protocols can be sent via email to returntocampus@mail.wvu.edu.
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