WKU to require masks indoors, students express their views
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU is requiring masks inside of all buildings beginning Monday.
The school says, in an email to students, this is all as a precaution put into place alongside the Coronavirus Task Force in coordination with public health officials to protect campus.
Cases of COVID-19 have begun to rise in the Commonwealth and as the delta variant spreads at high rates, people are making their way back into hospital ICU’s.
The curve for positivity in the state has shot way up, but with many people being vaccinated, the state has seen between one and six deaths per day since May, according to Team Kentucky Website data.
The last time numbers of deaths were that low consistently was during the first month of the pandemic, according to the data.
With rising numbers, though, the number of hospitalizations and deaths could rise.
So, as an effort to keep Western Kentucky University open, a letter was sent out to students saying the school has put a mask mandate into effect for the entire campus.
Some students fully supported the efforts, while others were a little annoyed to have to take a step backwards.
“It’s a little annoying that we have to go back to wearing them just because I got used to not wearing them but, I guess it is what it is and we have to do what we have to do to, like, keep everyone safe and stuff,” said Gabriella Goodwin.
“Yeah, I would say it’s annoying because I got vaccinated and I went so long without wearing them and now I have to get used to wearing them again,” said Zineb Benchabane.
“As long as it’s what’s keeping people safe, especially with the new delta variant of COVID coming around, I don’t mind it at all,” said Nailah Collins.
“This entire summer I’ve been here so I’ll have to get used to not having the freedom anymore. But I think I can adjust really well and I think others will but right now it’s there just like kind of disappointing and disheartened,” said Ahsikmika Mcghee.
“I thought stuff was going back to normal but it is what it is. I have no choice. I have no say in it. I got to do what they tell me to do,” said Donovan Taylor.
“We’ll get used to it because we have to take precaution with everything going on,” said Will Herrensmith.
The letter also stated that more COVID-19 guidelines will be released in the coming days.
The school is also highly recommending vaccines for all students saying vaccines are one of the strongest deterrents to viral transmission or serious symptoms or complications.
