Everyone at ISU to receive KN95 masks to reduce Omicron risk

BLOOMINGTON (25 NEWS) - Illinois State University on Tuesday started distributing KN95 face masks to the entire campus community, aiming to slow the spread of the Omicron variant as students return to campus for the spring semester.

In its weekly coronavirus update, the university said KN95 masks will be made available to each student, faculty and staff member.

There are almost 20,000 students and about 3,500 employees, and each will receive a packet of two masks, said University spokesperson Eric Jome.

Distribution of the masks comes at a critical time. Students have been attending class virtually the first two weeks of the spring semester, but they’re scheduled to start in-person learning next week.

“KN95 masks are shown to provide wearers with a heightened degree of protection,” administrators said in their weekly report.

“Data have emerged in recent weeks that cloth face coverings offer less protection against the Omicron variant than against previous COVID-19 strains.”

According to Jome, ISU is buying the masks from an industrial vendor, but information about the cost to the university was not immediately available.

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