Starting Saturday, March 5, the University at Buffalo will make masks optional on its campuses in most settings:
Remember: There are many reasons that individuals may continue to wear a mask, including those who are:
Please be kind and respectful toward others in our UB community.
Faculty and academic support staff, see Guidance for faculty and academic support staff.
Mask use is an additional layer of protection since COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect. Some masks work better than others to help stop the spread of COVID-19. UB recommends following CDC guidance on proper face masks.
In accordance with updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Erie County Department of Health, UB requires all students, employees and visitors—regardless of their vaccination status—to wear a high-quality, tight-fitting, high-filtration mask indoors and in public settings.
The following recommendations are for non-health care workers:
If you want to wear a cloth mask, it is strongly recommended that you wear a surgical mask underneath it. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits and how well it filters the air. Make sure your mask completely covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly against your face. Gaps can let air with respiratory droplets leak in and out around the edges of the mask. Pick a mask with layers to keep your respiratory droplets in and others’ out. A mask with layers will stop more respiratory droplets getting inside your mask or escaping from your mask if you are sick.
Updated February 11, 2022