Reinstatement of mask mandate — a message from Detroit Mercy President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

Reinstatement of mask mandate — a message from Detroit Mercy President Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.

Dear Detroit Mercy Community,

On Aug. 5, University of Detroit Mercy reinstated mandatory mask usage indoors on all Detroit Mercy campuses, regardless of one’s vaccination status.

This decision, effective immediately, is due to the rise in cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant in Michigan and Wayne County. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends universal indoor masking in areas with “substantial” or “high” levels of community transmission. Wayne County and surrounding counties now meet this threshold.

This decision is extremely important to our interest in having in-person classes and vibrant campus experiences for the entire Detroit Mercy family this fall. The University’s COVID-19 Task Force will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 case counts daily and follow the guidance of the CDC and other public health organizations.

The University requires all employees and students to be fully vaccinated by Aug. 16. Given the continuing seriousness of the virus, I remind you to please obtain your vaccination or request a waiver prior to the Aug. 16 deadline that the university has required of all employees and students. Our Mercy and Jesuit charisms inspire us to care for those around us. 

For more information on the vaccine requirement, visit udmercy.edu/vaccine.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance so we can bring an end to this global pandemic that has already taken more than 4 million lives. 

Sincerely,
Antoine M. Garibaldi, Ph.D.