Update to ASU face coverings policy, Daily Health Check

March 14, 2022

As it has throughout the pandemic, Arizona State University continues to follow health protocol guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Feb. 25, the CDC announced changes to its guidelines that allow people to go without face coverings indoors in most counties in the United States.

The CDC’s new metrics look at caseloads, hospitalizations and local hospital capacity. Under these metrics, roughly 70% of U.S. counties are deemed areas of low to medium risk and therefore fall under the new guidance of going maskless indoors in many situations. Only those areas that are still a high risk require masks indoors, according to the CDC.

Maricopa County, where ASU’s four metro Phoenix campuses are located, is in the medium category. ASU also has locations in Los Angeles County, California, (low risk); the District of Columbia (low); Pima and Mohave counties in Arizona (both medium). The exception is the Yuma location: Yuma County remains high risk, so all employees, students and visitors at the Yuma location are required to wear a face cover while inside ASU buildings, regardless of vaccination status. (Check any county’s status at the CDC’s county check website.) 

At ASU, face coverings are recommended but not required starting March 14, 2022, across campus. Signs will be placed inside buildings to note any areas where face coverings are still required, such as in health care settings. (April 18, 2022, update: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention no longer require face covers on public transportation. Face covers are recommended but not required on ASU shuttles per the updated federal guidelines.)

In addition, the Daily Health Check is optional starting March 14.

People may choose to wear a face covering at any time. If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your health care provider about whether you need to wear a face covering and take other precautions. 

Those with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should follow CDC guidelines and wear a face covering if in public.

The university continues to expect the ASU community to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and to get tested regularly, especially for those experiencing symptoms.

• TESTING: Devils’ drop-off is a free on-campus COVID-19 saliva testing option open to all students, faculty and staff. No appointments are required — pick up a kit from an on-campus location, register it online and drop it off once you’ve collected your saliva sample. Pick-up and drop-off locations are available at numerous ASU and ASU-affiliated locations. You must drop off your sample within eight hours of collecting it. Learn more, including how to register the bar codes online, on the Devils’ drop-off page.
• VACCINES: ASU Health Services and Employee Health have COVID-19 vaccines, third doses and boosters available. Students can make appointments by going to the ASU Health Portal; ASU Health Services has the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines available. ASU employees can make appointments through Employee Health; Employee Health has the Moderna vaccine only. All COVID-19 vaccines are widely available across pharmacies, supermarkets and medical providers. To find a convenient location near you to get a COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster, please visit vaccines.gov/search or azdhs.gov/FindVaccine. Refer to the CDC or FDA for the most current information on the COVID-19 vaccine dose, and booster details and timing.

Posted: 7:56 a.m. March 14, 2022