Durham to Require Masks Indoors

Due to the exponential growth of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks due to the Delta variant, the city and county of Durham have announced a state of emergency and now require mask be worn indoors, even among those who are fully vaccinated.

The new requirement, which goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, is consistent with the requirement already announced by Duke University and the recommendations the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With the approach of the fall semester, Duke officials are closely monitoring trends in the area and on campus and may issue new guidance as appropriate to promote the health and safety of our community. The latest guidance and protocols can be found on the Duke United website.

We are making progress in vaccinating faculty and staff on campus with 87 percent now fully vaccinated. Vaccination is required for all students, faculty and staff. Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated should do so as soon as possible to protect against potential severe health risks associated with the Delta variant. Members of the Duke community can find options for vaccination on the Duke COVID Vaccine website.

All students are also required to be vaccinated and are being tested upon arrival before participating in activities on campus. Students will also continue to be tested weekly during the semester to help identify and respond quickly to asymptomatic cases to limit the potential for outbreaks on campus.

We will continue to assess our COVID protocols and test results as the semester progresses to determine whether updated guidance is necessary. Thank you for your help in promoting the health and safety of our community.