NCC students, as well as all Illinois residents, are seeing new COVID-19 protocols implemented. An email sent on Friday, August 27, stated that everyone must wear a mask in all indoor settings. This is regardless of one’s vaccination status. The indoor mask mandate begins on Monday, August 30.
NCC mask mandate
“The College’s existing health and safety policies—including the indoor mask requirement and vaccine expectation that were announced earlier in the summer—are in alignment with the new state-wide requirements,” said Peter Barger and Michael Hudson, NCC co-chairs of the COVID-19 Institutional Response Team.
On August 12, NCC students received an email regarding the school’s COVID-19 weekly testing. The program runs through the SHIELD Illinois testing program. The testing is a saliva-based test, similar to the testing during the 2021 spring semester. All students must sign up for testing, but only unvaccinated students must test weekly.
Illinois vaccine mandate
Illinois is also expecting all higher education personnel to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Unvaccinated members of the school must participate in weekly surveillance testing. The NCC community must submit their vaccination status after becoming fully vaccinated.
Vaccination opportunity
The school is continuing to encourage everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. More information on vaccine status and other health protocols can be found on NCC’s official health website. NCC is hosting an on-campus vaccine clinic on Monday and Tuesday, September 13-14, for those who select a two-dose vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are available. The Pfizer vaccine is two doses, while the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is one dose.
