May 11, 2022

Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,

We’ve made it through the academic year as a community, again successfully navigating the pandemic, because you – our students, faculty and staff – continued to work together to follow public health best practices. We are grateful to each and every one of you for wearing masks, getting vaccinated, reporting your positive test results, and all of the other work you’ve done to keep us together through the entire academic year.

As we transition to the summer, the Pandemic Preparedness Team has updated our public health guidance, which is available on the COVID website.

• Students, faculty and staff who test positive for COVID – even if using a home test – are required to report through the COVID Reporter. Anyone attending or working at a camp this summer on university grounds is also required to report through the COVID Reporter via the link on that page specifically for camps.
• Because of the availability of home tests, tracking those who test positive in our community is much more challenging than it was when all tests were administered by the university, county, or a doctor or pharmacist, when results were automatically reported to officials. We encourage you continue to report your positive results through the COVID Reporter so that we can watch for concerning trends in our community.
• After commencement, the Lory Student Center voluntary antigen testing location will be closed, with its last day of operation on Friday, May 13. The South College location will remain open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
• Students, faculty and staff continue to be required to be fully vaccinated (two doses of Moderna or Pfizer, or one dose of J&J) or to declare an exemption for medical or non-medical reasons. Boosters are not required but are strongly encouraged.

If you’re vulnerable or concerned about contracting COVID

We know that reduced public health guidelines and requirements are a welcome change to some and a source of worry about potential exposure to others.

Depending upon individual medical history, vaccine status, recent COVID infection, and family or household members, some of our community members may want to take additional precautions.

For those of you with increased concerns, we recommend that you consider the following strategies if you believe you have been exposed:

• Learn about treatments for COVID that are available if you become ill. If you test positive for COVID, ask your health care provider about these treatments and if they are a good option for you.
• You can get tested for free at our testing location near the South College Parking Garage. Every household is also eligible for several free tests through a federal program.
• N95 masks are shown to protect the wearer when worn properly.

Thank you again for your teamwork and commitment to the health of our university and to each other.

Sincerely,

The Pandemic Preparedness Team