Effective Immediately, Texas Tech is Lifting its Mask Mandate

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Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec revealed in a campus-wide email on Wednesday, May 19th that the University's mask mandate had been lifted.

The mask mandate went into place back in June of 2020 as plans were announced to transition faculty and staff back to campus for face-to-face instruction for Fall 2020. President Schovanec thanked everyone on campus for their perseverance.

This announcement comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order saying that government entities could not enforce mask mandates the day before, and recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For those not vaccinated, it is still highly recommended to wear a face covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but still, masks will not be mandatory for anyone on campus effective immediately. The only exception is that passengers using public transportation will still need to wear a face covering as federal guidelines require.

Schovanec also said that despite lifting the University's mask mandate, sanitization stations will still be provided across the campus and enhanced cleaning practices will continue.

President Schovanec ended the email with this:

The only way we can truly put COVID-19 behind us is by achieving herd immunity. If you have not already received your vaccine, I encourage you to do so as soon as possible. We will continue to work with state and local partners to provide on-campus vaccination clinics throughout the year to provide convenient options for our campus community.

 

I wish you a safe and productive summer, and I hope that involves time with friends, family, and loved ones.