Guidance on wearing face coverings
The CDC recommends that those with high risk for severe illness talk with their health care providers about the use of masks and other precautions.
Updated: April 20, 2022Here’s what you need to know:
- CDC guidance recognizes the changing dynamics of living in a world with COVID-19. It rates COVID-19 community levels as low, medium, and high, with recommendations at each level about the use of masks and other precautions.
- The university has free masks available including KN95 masks, which are available to campus community members upon request.
- Any individual can choose to wear a mask anywhere on campus, even when it is not required.
The university is closely following the state of Tennessee’s legal challenge to President Biden’s Executive Order 14042. The executive order applies to federal contractors, including UT Knoxville, and includes a masking requirement.
On November 30, a federal district judge granted the states of Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky a preliminary injunction that—for now—prohibits the federal government from enforcing the executive order on federal contractors in those states.
With the preliminary injunction in place, the university must comply with Tennessee law, which prohibits state institutions like UT Knoxville from requiring the use of masks. As a result, mask requirements on campus have been lifted.
CDC guidance recognizes the changing dynamics of living in a world with COVID-19. It rates COVID-19 community levels as low, medium, and high, with recommendations at each level about the use of masks and other precautions.
Wearing a mask is always an option for any individual who chooses to do so, and the CDC recommends that those with high risk of severe illness talk with their health care providers.
The best way to be protected from serious illness is to get vaccinated and boosted when eligible. Vaccines are safe, free, effective, and easily available on campus. The CDC has noted that when infections occur among vaccinated people, they tend to be mild. Learn more about on-campus COVID-19 vaccination options.
To discuss accommodations due to a medical condition, students should contact Student Disability Services; employees and visitors should contact the Office of Equity and Diversity.
University-Provided KN95 Masks
The university has free masks available including KN95 masks, which are available to campus community members on request. Information on obtaining masks and on their proper use and wear is available on the Environmental Health and Safety website.
Reusable cloth masks are available to students at all on-campus residential housing locations, the information desk at the Student Union, the circulation desk and One Stop at Hodges Library, and Pendergrass Library.
Business managers can order reusable cloth and surgical masks for their departments.
Review the CDC’s information about the different types of masks and respirators.