Face Coverings

Effective July 1, 2021, campus members who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comfortable with removing face coverings will not be required to wear face coverings on campus grounds either indoors or outdoors. Some additional provisions include:

• Face coverings will be required during the residential move-in process due to the lack of physical distancing during move-in.
• Face coverings must be worn in science labs due to use of shared equipment and limited physical distancing.
• Salem may require that face coverings be worn for special events or as campus, local, and/or state COVID-19 rates warrant.

Campus members who are not vaccinated are still required to wear face coverings indoors at all times and should wear face coverings outdoors when safe physical distancing from others cannot be maintained.

Face coverings continue to be required on campus for all guests, contractors, and vendors.

Face coverings may be cloth or disposable. Gaiter style face coverings are not permitted. Students and employees are expected to maintain their own supply of face coverings that fit appropriately and can be cleaned regularly and changed daily.

Individuals who enter campus facilities or participate in campus activities without following face covering guidelines will be asked to leave. Campus members should maintain a face covering with them at all times whenever they are on campus for use as required or needed.

CDC Guidance for of Use of Face Coverings

Physical Distancing

Students, employees, and visitors should continue to practice safe physical distancing whenever possible. With the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, Salem classrooms and other campus spaces will operate with reduced physical distancing requirements and higher occupancy limits for Fall 2021 than previously possible during the pandemic.

Healthy Hygiene

Healthy hand hygiene and frequent hand washing are required. Students, employees, and guests are expected to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after visiting a public space and blowing their nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching their face. If soap and water are not readily available, individuals should use appropriate hand sanitizer. For COVID-19 prevention, avoid shaking hands and touching your eyes, nose, mouth, and face. Salem will provide hand-sanitizer in building lobbies and common spaces to encourage and facilitate campus keeping their hands clean.

Campus members are expected to exhibit coughing and sneezing hygiene by covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing or using the inside of their elbow. Individuals must throw used tissues in a trash receptacle and immediately wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean their hands with an appropriate hand sanitizer.