Colorado College ends mandatory COVID-19 mask requirement

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Colorado College officially dropped its mandatory mask requirement for students and faculty on campus on Monday.

Colorado College announced it was easing coronavirus restrictions last week. That took effect on Monday, June 28 for the beginning of Block B, also known as the summer session.

In a statement from the college, masks are now optional for fully vaccinated CC community members. Masks are still "strongly recommended" for those who are unvaccinated.

Colorado College cites the CDC, which strongly recommends masks for unvaccinated individuals "who are at the greatest risk of becoming infected."

Regarding the Delta COVID-19 variant, the statement says, "The Delta variant, expected to become dominant in the U.S. very soon, spreads more quickly than previous variants and poses a risk for more vulnerable people to be infected and experience serious illness if they are not fully vaccinated."

In Southern Colorado, there are nine confirmed variant cases in Pueblo and 109 cases in El Paso County as of June 28.

According to the statement, roughly 60% of CC employees and 60% of Block B students have submitted vaccination documentation. The Scientific Advisory estimates the campus population's vaccination rate to be at least 84%.

This fall, Colorado College, along with other institutions across the state, will require students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated before returning to campus. However, people can still request to be exempt from getting the vaccine for personal, medical, or religious reasons.

All students, faculty and staff are required to provide proof of exemption or vaccination by August 1.