Quinnipiac University announced on Tuesday July 6 that fully vaccinated students do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors while those who are not vaccinated must continue to wear masks.

Classrooms, events and athletics will return to full capacity, and exempted students will be required to provide a negative PCR test five days before arriving on campus.

Students like journalism major Robert Lyon III believe the mandatory negative PCR test for exempt students will help reduce the number of cases on campus.

“I think the vaccine is a personal choice,” Lyon said. “Having these unvaccinated students tested before moving in is a great idea. Myself, I feel comfortable since I am fully vaccinated.

The revisions were made by the COVID-19 task force and university leadership after reviewing the most recent Connecticut state guidelines and recommendations, as the state is currently the fourth most vaccinated state by Becker Hospital Examination.

By August 1, students, faculty and staff who upload their immunization records to the Student Health Services Portal will not be required to wear a mask on campus, with the exception of certain classrooms, laboratories and university sponsored events which require all participants to wear masks.

David Maher, a junior major in film, television and media arts, is excited about this initiative as it will help deliver the full Quinnipiac experience.

“I can’t wait to be back in class and not staring at a screen for 50 minutes to two and a half hours, but I think it will be fun,” Maher said. “Again, I think of the freshmen from last year and the new freshmen who will finally be able to experience all that QU has to offer that they weren’t able to see last year.”

During the next semester, the university will have limited quarantine accommodation for students who test positive for COVID-19 or those who have been in contact with someone who tested positive.

“Students may need to isolate or quarantine at home or off campus at their own expense if university accommodation is not available,” wrote senior medical adviser David Hill and director of the experiment. Tom Ellett in the ad.

Capacity limits on campus will be removed at university and student sponsored events as long as the virus is contained while adhering to the mask policy.

The announcement delighted many students, as spectators at these events were limited last year.

“I think it’s great that the university is lifting the restrictions, especially in arenas, fields, etc. Maher said. “As a broadcaster and as a fan, the environment inside the People’s United Center has been missed and getting it back will definitely bring that sense of normalcy, especially to the freshman who doesn’t have it. lived last year and to the incoming freshman. I can’t wait to see and hear the barn get carried away this season, especially with some big names on the upcoming hockey calendar.

The university also notes that all dining halls in the university will return to 100% capacity, and many students believe this is the right decision.

“I think it’s a great idea to bring the dining rooms back to full capacity,” said Lyon III. It will be good for the new class to have a somewhat normal school year.

Lyon also indicated that with full capacity dining rooms, he feels comfortable eating indoors.

Starting this fall, students will no longer need to log their symptoms in the QU Symptom Checker app.

In the announcement, Dr Hill and Ellett mention that they will continue to adhere to the most recent guidelines, saying “We continue to review the most recent public health guidelines and recommendations on the COVID-19 vaccine and virus. “

This will continue to be monitored over the next semester.