Dear Student,
During the last few days, the number of COVID-19 cases among students has risen dramatically. The most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and others and slow the spread of COVID is to wear a mask whenever you are near others indoors.
We are hearing directly from some of you that many students have stopped wearing masks indoors. We know you are tired of these public health measures, but please stick with them. Mask wearing works and is critically important right now.
If you recently tested positive for COVID and completed your isolation, it is especially imperative that you wear a mask around others. Although the guidelines say you may leave isolation after 5 days, you may still be contagious for an additional 5 days and need to take additional precautions.
Visitors are no longer allowed in residence halls
Effective immediately, visitors are once again not allowed in residence halls. This means that only students who live in the residence hall are allowed to enter. This policy will remain in effect until our positive COVID numbers decline significantly.
Additional precautions may be necessary
We hope that we will not have to require additional precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of COVID among students. In fact, we still hope that we will be able to ease restrictions on campus this spring as the rate of cases declines in the general population. First though, we must reverse the current trend on our campus. Be sure to wear a mask indoors and limit your exposure in high-risk situations such as large social events, attending parties, eating in restaurants, or going to bars and clubs.
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and cooperation during these challenging times. We are optimistic that with these measures we will be able to weather the current COVID surge.
Camille Lizarríbar, JD, PhD
Dean of Student Affairs and Chief Student Affairs Officer for AS&E
Michael R. Jordan, MD, MPH
University Infection Control Health Director, Associate Professor of Medicine
Marie Caggiano, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Health Service
