Update on Indoor Face Mask Guidelines

Wednesday, February 16, 2022, 7:30am

Dear campus community,

The State of California and Sonoma County have lifted indoor face masks requirements. Under the new state order, people who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear a face mask indoors in some settings. People who are unvaccinated will continue to be required to wear a face mask indoors.

Lifting the indoor mask mandate for fully vaccinated people is an important milestone for our state and local community as we move towards managing the coronavirus as endemic. However, given that we are mid-semester and transitioning back to in-person instruction, and with the omicron wave of COVID-19 infections still receding— Sonoma State University will continue to require that face masks be worn inside all campus buildings.  

Although California has lifted the mask mandate, public health officials highly recommend the continued use of face masks when indoors, therefore at this time the campus will continue to follow all COVID safety protocols including the wearing of face masks indoors. We will continue to monitor health conditions and change the mask practices when it seems prudent.

In any decision we make, we weigh all of the data, consult with experts and other campus leaders, and review all relevant information before making decisions that impact our Seawolf community.

We will remain vigilant in our monitoring and testing for COVID-19, continuing the best practices that have kept our campus COVID-19 positivity rate low throughout the pandemic — showing our commitment to be healthy together. For information on COVID-19 at SSU, visit the COVID-19 website

I am personally grateful to you for your efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We need you to continue to do so. 

Stay safe and well.

Judy K. Sakaki,
President