Bloomington, Indiana — Beginning March 4, Indiana University will make masks optional on all of its campuses, the school announced on Friday.
According to the IU news release, they will no longer require masks in classrooms, residence halls, dining spaces, common areas, or at athletics venues starting March 4. Masks will still be worn in health care and research spaces.
The university cited a decline in COVID-19 cases at the university and throughout the state.
March 4 marks “the anticipated expiration of state and county public health orders,” it said.
According to Dr. Aaron Carroll, IU’s chief health officer, whether or not people continue to mask on campus will be a personal decision.
It will continue to distribute KN95 and N95 masks, the university said.
“One-way masking — an individual’s decision to continue wearing a mask — is encouraged for anyone more comfortable wearing a mask in public spaces,” Carroll said.
On Wednesday Purdue University announced that starting Friday, Feb. 18, masks would be optional on the West Lafayette campus except for instructional, research, and health care settings and where contractually required.
According to Purdue, athletic venues will be among the spaces where masks are optional.
