Some Louisiana College Campuses Are Keeping Their Mask Mandates; Others May Soon Adopt Mandates

By JC Canicosa, Louisiana Illuminator

July 28, 2021

In response to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, LSU’s Health and Medical Advisory Committee has announced a list of “science-based recommendations” including the continuation of a mask mandate and the requirement of a negative COVID-19 test before arriving on campus. The committee is recommending that the administration adopt those measures for all LSU campuses.

LSU kept its mask mandate in place even after Gov. John Bel Edwards lifted the statewide requirement in April, but, according to a statement from the health committee, the administration will review the committee’s recommendations and feedback from faculty and staff “before making any final decisions about the fall semester.”

“We have a shared goal of keeping our LSU community healthy, and we believe these recommendations significantly increase our chances of accomplishing that,” the committee said in its statement.

Southern University has also had its mask mandate in place on all five of the campuses since Fall 2020. Janene Tate, a spokesperson for Southern, said she expects the mandate to stay in place until the Fall 2021 school year begins.

During a June 24 meeting of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, Jeannine Kahn, UL system provost, said that masks would be optional for students. The UL system includes Louisiana Tech, Grambling State, McNeese State, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe and the University of New Orleans.

However, the CDC announced new guidelines Tuesday urging Americans in areas with the highest surges of COVID-19 infections to wear masks in public, indoor settings — even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Cami Geisman, the vice president for external affairs for the UL system, said in a Wednesday interview that she expects universities will implement masking requirements that align with the CDC’S latest.

UNO and Grambling State are the only UL schools to have mandated masks, but, Geisman said, “I don’t expect that will be the case much longer.”

In a Friday news conference, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Louisiana had the highest growth in COVID-19 cases per capita. Christina Stephens, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, said in a Wednesday text message that “we are reviewing the guidance to determine what the next steps for the state are.”

In New Orleans, Loyola University, Xavier, the University of Holy Cross and Delgado Community College will require masks for students, faculty and staff, according to a report from The Advocate.

The Louisiana Community and Technical College system couldn’t be reached after multiple emails seeking comment.

As for COVID-19 vaccines, Dillard University, Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane University and Xavier University are the only Louisiana schools that have received approval to require vaccinations for people on campus ahead of the fall semester.

LSU has asked the Louisiana Department of Health to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required immunizations once it’s fully approved by the FDA and not under emergency use authorization.

There are no vaccines available for children younger than 12, and at the governor’s July 16 news conference, Catherine O’Neal, the medical director of infection control and prevention at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, said, “Delta variant is coming for our children.” However, the governor said as recently as Friday that decisions about whether students should wear masks at school would be left to local governments to decide.

The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized.