photo by: Journal-World File

Students walk along Jayhawk Boulevard, donning masks, on the University of Kansas campus on Aug. 24, 2020.

The University of Kansas is lifting its outdoor mask mandate in light of recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Following Douglas County’s health order, people on campus will still be required to wear masks in indoor settings and in outdoor settings where social distancing cannot be maintained, KU Operations said in an email on Friday afternoon.

On Sunday, during KU’s three commencement ceremonies, guests will be encouraged to wear masks and will be expected to adhere to social distancing recommendations, according to an email from Wendy Bridges, KU’s Director of Ceremonies and Events. Bridges also said that guests will now be able to access most parts of the Hill to watch graduates process from the Campanile toward the football stadium, but guests will be expected to respect rope lines and not interfere with graduates during the procession.

The CDC said this week that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors or in most indoor settings. Gov. Laura Kelly adopted the guidance on Thursday. Douglas County, however, is still in the process of reviewing the updated guidance from the CDC and KDHE, and local health leaders have not yet said whether they will follow it. The county will address the updated guidance in its Douglas County Commission meeting on May 19.