The University of Tennessee announced Monday that students and staff will be required to wear face masks indoors when the fall semester begins in two weeks.
Following new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UT will require all students, faculty and staff when indoors on campus to wear masks whether they are vaccinated or not.
The change comes as many major retail employers also are requiring their employees, although not their customers, to wear masks regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Walmart, Publix, Target, Kohl's and Kroger are all requiring employees working indoors to wear masks. TVA and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee reimposed similar mask requirements for indoor work last week.
(READ MORE: Some of Chattanooga's biggest employers are bringing back mask mandates)
Publix began requiring associates on Monday, regardless of their vaccination status, to wear face coverings over their noses and mouths while inside any Publix location.
"We encourage all to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19," the company said.
Target said it is not only mandating masks for its own employees in high-risk areas like Tennessee; the retailer also "strongly recommends" wearing masks for shoppers.
UT President Randy Boyd said with the Delta variant of the coronavirus still spreading, "we want to help ensure the safest return possible" as classes resume. UTC classes are scheduled to begin on Aug. 16.
"We are excited to have our campus communities together this fall and are planning full campus experiences across the UT System," Boyd said in a statement Monday. "The best way to take care of each other as we return to campus is to first take care of ourselves by getting the COVID-19 vaccine."
- Compiled by Dave Flessner