By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Western State University will be reviewing its mask mandate tomorrow, deciding whether an improvement in COVID-19 numbers is enough to lift the mandate.
Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy acknowledges the trend is encouraging.
“Our mask mandate is only for indoor spaces, public spaces, but it’s sure looking good and I’m sure hopeful we’ll be able to pull that back,” Kennedy tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.
Kennedy says she is proud of how the St. Joseph campus has rallied to take precautions against spreading the coronavirus.
“And I’m very, very proud of our students, our faculty, our staff, everyone who has remained diligent, who follows our protocols, and who helps us get to this point where we can say, ‘You know what, we’re in a good spot,’” Kennedy says.
Kennedy says the Missouri Western COVID advisory team will meet tomorrow to decide if the positive trend in COVID-19 numbers is positive enough to warrant lifting the requirement that masks be worn indoors.
The Buchanan County positivity rate is below five percent, new cases have fallen as have hospitalizations. Mosaic Life Care reported treating only 12 COVID-19 patients in its system as of Wednesday, all in St. Joseph. Kennedy says the advisory committee will review all the latest data to decide whether the mask mandate stays in place.
Kennedy admits she’s ready for the masks to come off.
“Trust me, I walk around with a mask around my neck in my own work and I’ve always got one when I’m on around campus,” Kennedy says. “But I’ve got to tell you, I’m done with it, and I’m ready to hang it up and put it away and hopefully this will be for the late time.”
Missouri Western celebrates Homecoming this weekend with Griffon football hosting Northeastern State at four o’clock Saturday afternoon at Spratt Stadium. Pregame on KFEQ begins at three.