As discussed in depth at last week’s virtual town hall, we want to remind all members of the UMass Chan community about resources and guidelines in place to make our campus as safe as possible. Please review the following information closely and, as always, if you are not feeling well, please stay home and consult your health care provider.
COVID-19 Surveillance Testing
One of the most important mechanisms to keep our campus community safe is regular surveillance testing of asymptomatic individuals. As a reminder, all non-clinical staff who come to campus must be tested weekly. Results are reported weekly on our coronavirus updates website and anyone who tests positive will be contacted by Infection Control. To encourage compliance, managers will receive compliance reports and those who continue to come to campus but fail to participate in COVID-19 surveillance testing will be subject to badge deactivation.
Travel-related COVID-19 Testing
Prior to any out-of-state travel of 24 hours or more, all faculty, staff and students must complete a travel form. Three-to-five days after returning from travel, all faculty, staff and students must also get a COVID-19 test. Anyone who does not follow these two requirements may be subject to badge deactivation.
- Most school employees should use this travel form. School employees who work in UMass Memorial clinical care settings should complete the UMass Memorial form and send it to Employee_Health_COVID-19_mailbox@umassmemorial.org.
- Students should complete the student travel form.
Before travel it may be helpful to refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s domestic and international travel guidance.
Flu shot deadline is Dec. 15
All UMass Chan faculty, staff and students are required to receive a flu shot and provide proof of vaccination by Dec. 15. Individuals who receive their flu shots at locations other than at UMass Memorial sites via Employee Health should send documentation of flu vaccination to employeeflumailbox@umassmemorial.org.
Masks
Wearing a mask indoors is required for everyone while on the UMass Chan Medical School campus, regardless of vaccination status. The only exception is that vaccinated individuals may remove their masks briefly (15 minutes or less) while eating or drinking when alone in an office with the door closed or while at least six feet physically distanced from others. No eating is allowed at conferences, meetings, or other gatherings.
On and Off Campus Gatherings
Guidelines for on-campus gatherings have not changed – until further notice no food is allowed at any on campus gathering and all attendees must be vaccinated. Any outside guests who attend on-campus gatherings must be vaccinated and registered in the SV3 visitor management system. In addition, the department sponsoring the gathering must gather guests’ addresses and phone numbers in case contact tracing becomes necessary.
Any department or group seeking to host an off campus gathering must complete the off-campus events request form and email it to Kristen.maki@umassmed.edu a minimum of two weeks in advance of the event. This document is an attestation that all attendees at off-campus gatherings, including non-UMass Chan guests, must complete. To maximize safety it is recommended that off campus events be held at an outdoor venue, when possible, that tables be spaced and that pre- and post-event COVID-19 testing of all attendees be conducted. We also recommend that individuals who are immune suppressed or otherwise medically vulnerable abstain from attending off-campus events, which may not be as safe from an infection control perspective as those held on campus, where COVID-19 vaccination is required.
COVID-19 Resources
Anyone may schedule a COVID-19 test and find travel guidance, links to virtual town hall meetings and more at https://umassmed.edu/coronavirus/.
