Syracuse University raises COVID alert level to red due to high transmission risk

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WHEC) — Syracuse University has raised its four-tier COVID-19 alert system to "red" due to an uptick in COVID cases in Onondaga County.

According to Syracuse University, the four-tier COVID alert and masking framework are color-coded and correlate to specific on-campus masking requirements for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors.

Under a red alert, all students, staff, faculty, and visitors on campus must wear masks indoors at all times and outdoors when others are around, regardless of vaccination status.

However, students are not required to wear their masks in their own dorms and vaccinated employees can go maskless while alone in private offices, personal workstations, or when working independently outdoors on campus.

The university says public health experts, in consultation with federal, state, and local public health officials, will continue daily monitoring of COVID data on campus and in the community, and make recommendations related to future adjustments to their campus masking policy as dictated by data and science.

Syracuse University is currently monitoring 22 active cases, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard.