MALTA — Kishwaukee College announced all individuals regardless of vaccination status will be required to wear masks on campus going forward as of Monday, Aug. 2.

The college based its decision on new guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC.

“The landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic is ever changing,” the press release said. “We will return to requiring all individuals on campus to wear masks, whether vaccinated or not, while indoors. Students on campus for any reason – attending class, utilizing campus resources, or studying / using internet services – must wear a mask at all times and practice social distancing.”

Ogle County was recently placed in the category of substantial community transmission by the CDC. More than half of the state is in substantial or high transmission.

The county sent out a press release July 29 “strongly recommending” everyone, regardless of vaccination status, wear a mask while indoors of areas of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission and recommended public places and employers require universal indoor masking. 

The recommendation was based on increasing cases of 51 per 100,000, and an increasing positivity rate of 4.26 percent and declining ICU availability in the region. 

“The pandemic is not over and we must continue to be vigilant in our individual behaviors and our collective behaviors as a community,” the press release said.