Quinnipiac University announced on Tuesday, July 6, that fully vaccinated students do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors whereas those who are not vaccinated must continue to wear masks.

Classrooms, events and athletics will be returning to full capacity, and students granted an exemption have to provide a negative PCR test five days before arriving on campus.

Students like senior journalism major Robert Lyon III believe that the mandatory negative PCR test for exempted students will help reduce the number of cases on campus.

“I think that the vaccine is a personal choice,” Lyon said. “Having those unvaccinated students tested prior to moving in is a very good idea. I, myself, feel comfortable since I am fully vaccinated.”

The revisions were made by the COVID-19 Task Force and university leadership after reviewing the most recent guidelines and recommendations from the state of Connecticut, as the state is currently the fourth most vaccinated state per Becker’s Hospital Review.

By Aug. 1, students, faculty and staff who upload their vaccination records to the Student Health Services Portal will not be required to wear a mask on campus, with the exception being some classrooms, laboratory settings and university-sponsored events that require all participants to wear masks.

Junior film, television and media arts major, David Maher, says he is excited about this, as this will help deliver the full Quinnipiac experience.

“I can’t wait to be back in the classroom and not stare at a screen for 50 minutes to two and a half hours but I think it’ll be fun,” Maher said. “Again, I think about the freshmen last year and incoming freshmen that will finally get to experience all that QU offers and they didn’t get to see last year.”

During this upcoming semester, the university will have limited quarantine housing for students who test positive for COVID-19 or those who were in contact with someone who tested positive.

“Students may need to isolate or quarantine at home or off campus at their own expense if university housing is not available,” Senior Medical Adviser David Hill and Chief Experience Officer Tom Ellett wrote in the announcement.

Capacity limits on campus will be removed on university and student-sponsored events as long as the virus is contained while observing the mask policy.

This announcement has many students thrilled, as spectators at these events were limited last year.

“I think it’s great that the university is lifting the restrictions especially in the arenas, fields, etc.,” Maher said. “As a broadcaster and as a fan, the environment inside the People’s United Center was missed and having it back will definitely bring that sense of normalcy, especially to the freshman that didn’t experience it last year and to the incoming freshman. I can’t wait to see and hear the barn packing this season, especially with some big names on the upcoming hockey schedule.”

The university also notes that all university dining halls will return to 100% capacity, and many students feel that this is the right move.

“I believe it’s a great idea to bring back dining halls at full capacity,” Lyon III said. It will be nice for the incoming class to have somewhat of a normal school year.”

Lyon also indicated that with dining halls at full capacity, he feels comfortable eating inside them.

Starting this fall, students will no longer need to log their symptoms in the QU Symptom Checker app.

In the announcement, Dr. Hill and Ellett mention that they will continue to adhere to the most updated guidance, saying “we continue to review the most recent public health guidelines and recommendations on both the vaccine and COVID-19 virus.”

This will continue to be monitored heading into the upcoming semester.

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