On this final day of 2021 we wanted to take a moment to wish each of you a happy, healthy and safe new year. We greatly appreciate the hard work you do in supporting our students, our scholarship and creative activities, as well as our service to our community. Hopefully this holiday break has given you the opportunity to rest and enjoy some relaxing time away from your busy work lives so we can all return to campus ready to launch a successful spring semester.
Given the current surge in COVID cases across the country and in Northeast Ohio, we also want to remind you that as a campus we continue to follow CDC-recommended safety protocols and up-to-date isolation and quarantine measures. Please keep these in mind as you prepare to return to campus on Monday, Jan. 3.
- Vaccination and booster shots remain the best protection. The science has never been clearer. Vaccination plus a booster shot (for those ages 16 and over) offers the absolute best protection against serious illness, hospitalization or death from COVID-19. Vaccines and boosters are readily available. Go to gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov for locations near you. CSU Health and Wellness Services will continue to provide vaccinations for students, faculty and staff every Tuesday and booster shots on Wednesdays by appointment beginning next week. Call 216-687-3649 to schedule.
- Get tested if you are symptomatic or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Contact your health care provider for testing advice. Testing is also available at Health and Wellness Services from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 3 -13.
- Isolate if you test positive and follow CDC guidelines.
- Quarantine if you’ve been exposed and follow CDC guidelines.
- Mask up when indoors on campus. You are still required to wear a mask that covers both your nose and mouth when indoors on campus. Our student safety ambassadors will continue to monitor mask compliance.
- If you’re sick, stay home! The health and safety of you, your colleagues and our entire community remains our top priority. If you are sick, please stay home and get better before returning to campus. Individuals who cannot work because of a positive COVID infection will be provided with additional paid time off without impacting their sick leave. Contact Human Resources for more information or to report that you’ve tested positive.
We understand that this latest COVID surge continues to present challenges for members of the university community. Please know that we are here for you.
All the members of our leadership team know someone who has had COVID and some of us have contracted breakthrough cases ourselves (and are very grateful that we were vaccinated). Please let your supervisor know if you are sick, if you need to isolate or quarantine or if you are struggling to come to work because you need to care for a loved one, and we will do our best to support you.
As always, we will continue to adjust our strategies as necessary to protect the university community, but with your continued support and buy-in, we believe we can continue to meet the needs of our students, fulfill our mission and have a successful semester.
Sincerely,
