|
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Required
All UP students, staff, and faculty are required to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster within two weeks of becoming eligible and must upload proof of status (follow the directions on UP's Vaccinations page). We anticipate that all community members will be able to comply with this requirement by February 1.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, those 12 and older who received a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine should get a booster 5 months after their primary vaccination series. Those who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster 2 months after their primary vaccination. (Although adults may choose between a Pfizer or Moderna booster, those aged 12-17 are only eligible for Pfizer at this time.) Boosters are available at most locations that provide COVID-19 vaccines, such as pharmacies, clinics, and doctor’s offices.
| |
How to Report Booster Status
| |
Please report your booster status as soon as possible to assist with the contact tracing process, since CDC quarantine guidelines differ for those who have received a booster. Students, please report your vaccine booster status through the patient portal on the Health Center’s website. Check our PDF for easy step-by-step instructions. Staff and faculty can upload proof of their booster shot through this link on the Pilots Prevent vaccination page.
| |
Post-Arrival Covid-19 Testing for STudents
| |
UP Vice President of Student Affairs, Fr. John Donato, C.S.C., sent a message to all UP undergraduate students on January 7 regarding the required post-arrival COVID-19 testing plan. You can read the full message here. To summarize:
Required testing for students starts this week: Undergraduate students can pick up their COVID-19 test beginning Wednesday, January 12 through Friday, January 14 at the Chiles Center or Merlo Field box offices between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Bring your student ID. Instructions will be given to take a proctored test and upload the results by the end of the day, Friday, January 14. Students who have tested positive in the last 90 days do not need to test, and should report their positive result here.
Have symptoms? If students are feeling symptomatic they should not pick up a test and instead make an appointment with the Health and Counseling Center. Students who have COVID-like symptoms anytime during the semester should try to make an appointment with the Health and Counseling Center for testing. If you cannot get an appointment or it is after hours, you can pick up a test at Campus Safety.
Test positive? If your post-arrival test is positive, follow the reporting instructions you were given along with your test and observe all isolation protocols and precautions. You will receive further guidance on next steps. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID, please observe these protocols.
| |
Andrew Lafrenz, UP Director of Integrative Health & Wellness and Associate Professor of Nursing, discusses the symptoms and challenges the Omicron variant presents.
| |
Important Message Regarding Online instruction
| |
In a concerted effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve during this current surge of the highly contagious Omicron variant, UP announced earlier today it will extend online learning through January 21, with the intention of returning to in-person instruction on Monday, January 24. The University continues to be committed to having a successful primarily in-person semester, so it does not intend to extend online instruction any longer than necessary. Services such as dining, campus recreation, and the library are open. Student Activities will be online through January 23. Read the full message from Acting President and Provost Dr. Herbert Medina here.
| |
- Boosters on campus: The Health & Counseling Center will soon receive a shipment of COVID-19 vaccine boosters for students. Although we still encourage students to receive a booster at their first opportunity, please know that these boosters will be available at HCC near the end of this month. Further details will be shared soon.
- Upgrade your masks: All community members are encouraged to wear surgical masks or N95/KN95 masks, if possible. Data increasingly suggest that these masks are more effective at preventing the spread of Omicron.
- Limit gatherings: All community members are asked to be judicious when gathering with others, especially while eating, so that we can flatten the Omicron curve and return to normal operations as quickly as possible.
- Online meetings: When physical distancing isn't possible, staff and faculty are asked to hold meetings in an online format until at least January 21.
- Coursework questions: If students have specific questions about coursework, they are kindly asked to be in direct contact with their instructor(s).
| |
Curious about the rate of positive COVID-19 cases in the UP community? Our positive case dashboard is updated weekly. During the week ending January 9, 95 (ninety-five) positive case reported. Cases include those reported by individuals who took part in pre-arrival testing and may not have been present on campus.
| |
|
Helping Pilots Prevent is published every other Tuesday. Look for the next issue Tuesday, January 25!
| |
|
|
| |
|