MIT to ease masking, testing, attestation requirements

Highlights

• Effective Monday, March 14, masks will be optional in most indoor areas on our campus. 
• We ask everyone to respect others’ choices on masking.
• Covid testing will become optional for students and campus residents as of March 14. It remains available on demand for anyone in Covid Pass who needs or wants it.
• Daily health attestations will no longer be required for campus access as of March 14.
• Campus access remains restricted to members of the MIT community who are up to date on their Covid vaccinations or have an approved exemption; others must either be accompanied by a Covid Pass holder or have a Tim Ticket.
• We see these policy changes as positive steps in moving to the next stage of the pandemic. We will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as needed.

To the members of the MIT community:

The Omicron surge now appears to be behind us. And while almost 4,500 of our MIT colleagues, classmates, and friends have tested positive since December, we are not aware of anyone in our community who has been hospitalized during that time due to Covid.

Thanks to your strong embrace of our vaccination and booster policies, we are now able to announce that we will relax a number of MIT’s Covid policies, effective March 14.

Masks will no longer be required in most indoor areas on our campus. This change takes effect next Monday, March 14, as the City of Cambridge lifts its own indoor-masking requirement. Some important notes:

• We ask everyone to respect others’ choices on masking: Many members of our community will choose to continue wearing masks. Public health experts have consistently emphasized their protective value, especially for those who are immunocompromised or medically vulnerable; those who have loved ones in these categories; and family members of children who are not yet vaccinated. We will continue to make high-quality masks available on campus.
• Masks will remain required in MIT Medical facilities and on MIT shuttle buses, per state regulations.
• It remains important that all who are unvaccinated or not up to date with their vaccinations continue to wear masks when indoors.

Covid testing will become optional for students and campus residents on March 14 — but testing remains available on demand for anyone in Covid Pass who needs or wants it. As we enter this next phase of the pandemic, we encourage all members of our community to be more strategic about their testing. Under this new, more targeted approach, we urge members of our community to seek a Covid test:

• when they have symptoms;
• when they are in an elevated risk situation, such as due to recent travel, gatherings, or a known exposure to someone who has tested positive for Covid; or
• when they plan to be in a situation that may expose others, such as before traveling, attending large gatherings, or interacting with those who are at elevated risk of severe Covid.

Daily health attestations will no longer be required as of March 14. However, we strongly encourage you to continue to avoid going to work or classes, or having any contact with others, if you have any Covid symptoms: Refraining from spreading cold or flu germs to others is both the courteous and the right thing to do.

MIT ID access to most campus buildings will remain in place past March 14: As we enter a new phase of the pandemic, we will continue to evaluate a broader opening of campus to the general public. Visitors remain welcome, but for now they must continue to be escorted by an MIT Covid Pass holder or invited using Tim Tickets.

We are hopeful and optimistic about this new phase of the pandemic. But we will continue to monitor the situation, and may reinstate Covid restrictions if conditions change.

This week marks the two-year anniversary of the last day when many MIT employees and students were on campus before an extended absence. We appreciate all that you have done — and continue to do — in support of MIT’s mission throughout these challenging times.

Sincerely,

Ramona Allen, Vice President for Human Resources

Cynthia Barnhart, Provost

Suzy Nelson, Vice Chancellor and Dean for Student Life

Melissa Nobles, Chancellor

Glen Shor, Executive Vice President and Treasurer

Cecilia Stuopis, MD, Medical Director, MIT Medical

Ian A. Waitz, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education

Maria T. Zuber, Vice President for Research