U.C. Berkeley: Masks optional for COVID, but students must mask up if they're not vaxxed against flu

Students at U.C. Berkeley do not have to wear masks if they're unvaccinated against COVID, yet the school requires attendees to cover their faces if they have not received a flu shot this year. 

The university on its website stipulates that "masks are strongly recommended, but not required, indoors — regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status," a nod to prevailing COVID guidelines regarding face coverings and vaccinations. 

Yet the school stipulates that "masks are required during flu season if not vaccinated for flu." 

The revelation of the masking guidelines brought with it criticism on social media. "UC Berkeley is making all students who haven’t gotten the flu shot wear a mask during flu season," wrote commentator Daniel Schmidt. "In other words, masks will never go away."

"Progressives are obsessed with face masks and cannot let them go because they are such a good tool for control and punishment," commentator Noah Pollak argued.

 Berkeley says elsewhere on its website that cloth masks by themselves are not acceptable face coverings, along with neck gaiters and bandanas.