Michigan State requiring vaccination or negative test to attend campus events

Michigan State University will now require attendees to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend campus events.

In a statement on Sunday, the university said attendees who are 12 years and older are required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of the event. 

Attendees who are 17 years of age and under with an adult won’t be required to show photo identification.

“Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to allow additional time for verification and entry. No testing opportunities will be available for event attendees on site. Prior to arrival, guests should have their negative COVID-19 results completed and in hand,” the school said in a statement. 

MSU will begin requiring proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID-19 test for athletic, music, art and theatre events happening on campus. https://t.co/kww8KOpql5

— MSU (@michiganstateu) January 1, 2022

The university will also still implement its mask mandate for all indoor events and spaces. 

The new vaccine-or-test policy will apply to the school’s winter athletic events, including men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, wrestling, and gymnastics. It also applies to ticketed arts and music events on campus through the spring semester. 

The first scheduled events under the new policy will be a performance of Cats on Jan. 4 and the men’s basketball game against Nebraska on Jan. 5. 

The U.S. is currently dealing with a winter surge of COVID-19 infections as the omicron variant has taken hold across the nation.

Michigan shattered its previous single-day record for COVID cases this past week, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

The state health departed reported a two-day average of almost 13,000 daily cases on Wednesday, compared to the previous single-day record of less than 10,000 cases on Nov. 20, 2020, per the Free Press.