ATL Standard

Georgia Tech will not require students, faculty or staff to wear masks in campus buildings for the upcoming fall semester, but officials are recommending it to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The university issued the guidance on its COVID-19 Institute Operations Updates page following the CDC’s recent recommendation that all individuals, even those who are fully vaccinated, should wear masks inside public buildings due to the virus’ highly contagious delta variant.

“At Georgia Tech, everyone is encouraged to wear a mask or face covering while inside campus facilities,” the school wrote on its website. “The University System of Georgia (USG) continues to work closely with the Georgia Department of Public Health to prioritize the health and safety of our campus communities.”

While the George Tech community is being asked to follow public health recommendations and is also encouraged to get vaccinated, the college said it “will respect individual choices.”

State health department data revealed there were 2,568 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of July 30 compared to 355 cases at the start of that month, GPB reported.

College-age Georgians, according to vaccine data, are less likely to get vaccinated, with 33.5% of 15- to 19-year-olds and 36.9% of 20- to 24-year-olds being fully vaccinated.