The Ohio State University is adjusting some COVID-19 health and safety protocols for students, faculty, staff and visitors, according to a Monday press release by the university.
In a message from Senior Vice President for Student Life Melissa Shivers and Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation Endowed Athletics Director Gene Smith, Buckeyes are asked to follow “local and university mask mandates, appropriate physical distancing, availability of PPE and hand sanitizer, limited distribution of literature and other items, and any other recommendations event planners, coordinators and public health advisors may have” when it comes to in-person gathering.
According to the press release, the university has resumed access to indoor basketball courts, indoor soccer courts, full capacity in-group fitness classes, as well as events and gatherings including rolling resumption of club sports and intramurals. While masks will not be required while taking part in “strenuous activity” such as exercising, they must be worn at all other times and in all other spaces throughout the recreation facilities. The university is also resuming full seating capacity in public and common spaces in Student Life facilities, including the Ohio Union, recreation centers and the Younkin Success Center, the press release notes.
The press release further notes that concessions will return to Ohio State sporting events and will reopen starting on February 3 when the men’s basketball team takes on Iowa at the Schottenstein Center.
Furthermore, despite the new change in health and safety protocol, the university is encouraging all Buckeyes to get vaccinated and boosted. According to the press release, those who get a booster can enter the Buckeye Booster Drawing. Weekly, the university will award $100 gift cards to 50 students who have received their booster shot and entered the drawing.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “OSU aerial view” by The Ohio State University.
