George Mason University said that while the COVID vaccine is no longer required, it urges students to get vaccinated.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. – George Mason University will no longer require the COVID-19 vaccine for students after Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares issued a legal opinion Friday.
Miyares noted that public colleges and universities do not have the authority to require them because the state legislature has not passed legislation specifically mandating coronavirus vaccines for students.
In a press release Monday, George Mason University said that while the COVID vaccine is no longer required, it is urging students to get vaccinated.
“To achieve our goal, I strongly encourage everyone to continue with the four steps that have gotten us this far: keep masking, get vaccinated and boosted, stay home if you’re sick and keep testing.” ‘ University President Gregory Washington wrote in a message to the university community on Monday.
Washington also announced that the school hopes to lift the mask requirement on campus by March 4, a week before spring break. In order to lift the mask requirement, university positivity rates for COVID must remain below 4% consistently. School officials claim that the university’s positivity rate is 2.4%.
The university says 93% of the campus community is fully vaccinated.
“I understand the concept of personal freedom. But we also need to understand the need for collective responsibility, and just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should do it,” Washington said. “We have shown that we can manage COVID-19 and keep people safe, and you have been with us on this journey.”
Washington says if conditions worsen, students could see the school reverse course.
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Beginning Monday, January 31, six Fairfax County Public Schools will implement the new Test to Stay program.
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