COVID‑19 Update:

Mask guidelines for outdoor events

WSU will remove its mask mandate for large outdoor events, effective February 18, 2022, in accordance with the new state of Washington guidance. Masks are still required in all indoor WSU locations.

Additionally, to comply with the State of Washington Healthy Washington—Roadmap to Recovery (v. 17), we are reminding all individuals they need to screen themselves for COVID‑19 symptoms as well as consider recent diagnosis and/or exposure before entering a WSU location.

Each day, please ask yourself the following:

1. Do I have any cold- or flu-like symptoms?

   Symptoms include, but are not limited to, sore throat, congestion, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, recent loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

   If your answer is yes to any of the above, please stay home and fill out WSU’s Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Tool for guidance on next steps.

   Please note: A negative home/self-test does not allow you to return to campus if experiencing the above symptoms. These tests have demonstrated questionable reliability in the early stages of infection.

2. Have you been in close contact with someone who is confirmed to have COVID‑19?

   Close contacts are defined as infected individuals you were less than six feet away from (laboratory confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24‑hour period. For example, three separate 5‑minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes.

   If your answer is yes, please stay home and fill out WSU’s Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Tool for next steps.

3. Have you recently (within the last 5 to 10 days) tested positive for COVID‑19?

   If your answer is yes, please stay home and fill out WSU’s Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Tool for next steps.

4. Within the past 14 days, has a public health or medical professional told me to self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine because of concerns about COVID‑19 infection?

   If your answer is yes, please follow the guidance provided to you by the public health/medical professional.

If you answered yes to anything in questions 1–3, please stay home and fill out WSU’s Quarantine and Isolation Guidance Tool for guidance on next steps.

If you answer no to all, you may enter a WSU location. Please remember that well-fitting face coverings, preferably KN95, KF94, or equivalent, are required in all indoor locations.

Additionally, all visitors and contractors also need to self-screen prior to entering a WSU location. Any visitors or contractors should review the DOH and/or CDC guidance related to their situation prior to entering a WSU location.