We are pleased to see the number of COVID-19 cases statewide trending downward and equally pleased to report that roughly 90 percent of you in our UMass Chan community have uploaded vaccination and booster documentation. We thank you for your adherence to the important health and safety measures that have allowed our campus community to conduct vital mission-based work during the last two years while maintaining a safe, flexible and effective learning and working environment.
All along, campus leaders have been and will continue to be guided by our expert infection control colleagues, science, and public health data and best practices. With these principles and priorities in mind, we are announcing a new phase of COVID-19 guidance – detailed below – for the UMass Chan community. These new guidelines reflect that the current pandemic conditions allow us to ease some of the restrictions that have saved countless lives, but also caused widespread social isolation and mental health challenges.
The first four guidelines below remain unchanged, while the remainder represent modifications to our existing COVID-19 protocols.
UMass Chan COVID-19 Guidance, effective Feb. 8
- Vaccine and booster requirement: Vaccination is the single most effective tool to prevent serious COVID-19 disease, hospitalization and death, and remains a requirement for all faculty, staff and students at UMass Chan, except for those with an approved medical or religious exemption. The CDC recommends a booster shot five months after the second dose of the Pfizer/Moderna vaccine or two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. When you have had your booster, upload the documentation here. Questions? Email Theresa.Kane@umassmed.edu. To schedule a vaccination or booster shot, visit https://vaxfinder.mass.gov/.
- Weekly surveillance testing continues for everyone who comes to campus one day a week or more. Appointments are required and may be scheduled here. Walk-ins will only be accommodated if appointments are available.
- Masks are still required indoors. Surgical masks are available at building entrances. Cloth masks may be worn over a paper surgical mask; however, cloth masks alone are insufficient when in any UMass Chan campus or facility, including South Street.
- Hybrid/remote work continues to be allowed at manager’s discretion and in accordance with the UMass Chan Remote Work Policy.
- Room capacity limits and physical distancing requirements are reverting to prepandemic status. It is no longer necessary to maintain physical distance while on campus, including in the cafeteria and while eating, although common sense should be exercised, and some people may choose to continue to distance while eating. Please adhere to the room capacity limits in the room reservations system.
- Following a positive COVID-19 test, individuals who are asymptomatic may return to campus after isolating for five days. Detailed instructions for the steps that individuals must take following a positive COVID-19 test are attached to this email. Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should stay home and consult their health care providers as needed.
- Travel reporting is being discontinued. The use of travel forms is no longer necessary for personal travel for fully vaccinated individuals. While there are no longer COVID-19-related restrictions on domestic University-sponsored travel, budgetary restrictions may apply. All domestic University-sponsored travel requires preapproval from your department. In addition, all international University-sponsored travel must be registered at least two weeks in advance in the UMass Travel Registry, reviewed by International Support Services and in some instances by the Provost.
Following guidance from the CDC for unvaccinated people, if you have obtained a medical or religious exemption for the COVID-19 vaccine and plan to travel internationally, you must email theresa.kane@umassmed.edu prior to travel and quarantine upon your return. Following international travel, a COVID-19 test 3 – 5 days after return is recommended.
- Outside guests may be invited to campus and must be preregistered in the SV3 visitor management system, which includes vaccination and health screenings.
- The use of the color-coded campus alert status is being discontinued.
To our clinical faculty, residents, fellows and students: please remember that the above stated guidance applies to all Medical School buildings. When you are working or learning in any hospital or clinical setting, you should follow that specific facility’s infection control guidelines.
It is critical that we maintain high standards of courtesy, civility and respect for others throughout our campus community. This entails understanding that our individual efforts impact the safety of all, and that even if your own risk of COVID-19 infection and complications is low, we cannot tell by looking at someone if they are immunocompromised and therefore at higher risk of disease or may have suffered personal loss or trauma due to the pandemic.
We will continue to be guided by the science and will review all COVID-19 protocols as needed. The latest information is available at https://umassmed.edu/coronavirus/. In addition, everyone is invited to join tomorrow’s UMass Chan Town Hall meeting at 1 p.m. for more information about COVID-19 guidance and other important campus initiatives.
