Based on updated guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Minnesota State system, and updated COVID-19 community levels from St. Louis County, Lake Superior College will be making masking optional as of Monday, March 7, 2022. Masking has been required at LSC, and all Minnesota State colleges and universities located in counties with high community levels, in recent months. As of Thursday, March 3, community levels in St. Louis County were reduced from a high level to a low level, allowing LSC to remove the mask mandate and instead make masking optional.

“I want to thank everyone for helping keep LSC safe and open during these challenging times,” said Lake Superior College President Patricia Rogers. “I know masking, social distancing, speaking through plexiglass, and endless zoom meetings have been challenging for these past two years, but now here we are! I am so pleased to officially lift the mask mandate as of Monday, March 7, 2022. We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation and must remain vigilant and flexible as things change around us. But for right now, beginning Monday, masking on campus is optional.”

Students, staff, faculty and campus guests who choose to continue to wear a mask will be fully supported. Lake Superior College also continues to strongly encourage all students and employees to get vaccinated and boosted, and continue to do all they can to help keep the campus community safe. College officials will continue to work closely with public health officials and community and state partners to monitors community levels and updated guidance. If community levels increase, masking may become required once again. Additional information and updates will continue to be posted on the website, www.lsc.edu/coronavirus. Questions and/or concerns can also be sent to [email protected].