The University of Wisconsin has announced a system-wide mask mandate for indoor facilities on campuses. | Unsplash/Phillips Jacobe
The University of Wisconsin has announced a system-wide mask mandate for indoor facilities on campuses. | Unsplash/Phillips Jacobe
As part of adapting its approach to changing COVID-19 activity, the University of Wisconsin has announced a system-wide mask mandate for indoor facilities on campuses, but there have been reported inconsistencies in its message.
Every campus in the UW system has announced a mask mandate or expectations for students regardless of vaccination status, but the message varies by institution, according to University of Wisconsin Green Bay. Some campuses have stated that masks are mandatory and will include punishments for those that fail to comply, but other UW campuses have advised that masks are "recommended."
WPR News reports that while eight UW campuses, including UW-Milwaukee, UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay, have announced enforceable mask mandates, five others, including UW-La Crosse and UW- Eau Claire have announced mask expectations with no further clarification.
Despite the inconsistencies, Wisconsin State Sen. Chris Larson lauded UW for its announcement.
"@UWSystem thanks for taking this pandemic seriously and prioritizing public health," Larson wrote in an Aug. 16 Twitter post.
The campus mask mandates and expectations come during a time of Republican backlash against COVID regulations and the mask mandate may face lawsuits, according to WPR News.
Beginning Aug. 30, UW students and staff that remain unvaccinated will be required to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing.
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