NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Students returning to Westminster College for the fall semester on Monday are expected to wear masks in indoor spaces. This is because the current community level of COVID-19 in Lawrence County is high.

According to the college's website, when the COVID-19 community level in Lawrence County is deemed high by the CDC, students will be expected to follow high-level protocols.

These include wearing a mask indoors, staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, and getting tested for COVID-19 when showing symptoms of the virus.

If the community level of COVID-19 shifts to low or medium, wearing a mask is optional. Therefore, the mask mandate may change throughout the semester.

However, there are some exceptions.

Masks will always be mandatory in the Wellness Center, and some academic departments or faculty members may require students to wear masks in a classroom or office where social distancing is impossible.

To check the COVID-19 community level in Lawrence County, or any county, visit the CDC's website.