NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s indoor mask mandate will remain in place until Natchitoches transmission is below high or substantial, according to NSU Interim President Dr. Marcus Jones.

On Tuesday Governor John Bel Edwards announced the lifting of the statewide mask mandate with some caveats.  K-12 schools must maintain a mask mandate or follow CDC guidance on quarantine. Institutions in the University of Louisiana System have been under a systemic mask requirement that precedes the Governor’s statewide mandate.  The UL System guidelines require students, faculty and staff to wear masks in classrooms and other public indoor spaces in regions of high or substantial transmission.

“It is with an abundance of caution that we will continue to wear masks indoors,” Jones said. “NSU’s indoor mask mandates have played a role in the low numbers of COVID cases on campus and we will continue to mask up until COVID no longer poses a threat to public health.”

Thursday, Oct. 28 is the last day to qualify for the Shot for $100 campaign.  NSU will host a COVID vaccine clinic from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday in Hanchey Gallery.

Information on NSU’s COVID-19 protocols can be found at https://www.nsula.edu/return-to-campus/.