Dear Physics Community,

On today’s 8 am phone call,  we heard that the number of MIT positive PCR tests shot up last week, despite the wastewater rate flattening or perhaps going down.  Based on this, the COVID-19 team recommends that everyone in the community wear masks when in the presence of others.  Although the COVID Team does not feel the present situation warrants a mask mandate, many of the 400+ people on the call disagreed with the decision and wants a mask mandate imposed on-campus.

This sudden rise in COVID-19 cases comes close enough to finals week and commencement to make us concerned about those testing positive missing exams or commencement itself.  The Department cannot impose, much less enforce, a unilateral mask mandate.  I strongly encourage everyone to wear masks whenever they can and make use of the MIT testing service at least weekly.  Further, if instructors feel the need to move their lectures, recitations, or other contact times to zoom, they should do so in consultation with Associate Head Deepto Chakrabarty.  Any move to zoom must consider any additional burden placed on students and instructors.

I view this situation as the first of many times we will have to react, sometimes on short notice, to changing circumstances.  How we respond will improve with time, and we always have to keep in mind people hold a spectrum of views around balancing public health and the other things people feel they need to get through the day.

Peter