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COVID-19 Updates

Information and resources for the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ community

Scotty with mask and vaccination bandaid
COVID-19 Updates  ›  News & Communications  ›  Communications Archive  ›  2022
Monday, December 19, 2022

Semester Transition; COVID Updates

As we approach the end of the calendar year, I want to thank you for your continued help mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Our collective behavior has enabled this past semester to progress successfully.
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Campus Updates; New Booster Available

I am glad to report that vaccination and booster rates in our campus community remain very high. Overall, 98% of students, faculty and staff are vaccinated and 96% have been boosted. You can view our immunization rates on our COVID-19 Dashboard. There is currently a medium transmission level in the county — down from the high level at the start of the semester; ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ cases have been trending downward as well, and with very low levels of severity. That said, the county levels are still changing often, so it is important we remain vigilant.
Friday, August 12, 2022

Welcome to Campus; COVID Updates

I write today to welcome you to a new academic year and to update you on our COVID strategies for the fall, including vaccine requirements, testing and masking, reporting and travel. The COVID Coordination Team, alongside university leadership and with the support of University Health Services and Allegheny Health Network experts, has been monitoring COVID conditions and metrics throughout the pandemic, including the recent rise in cases in Allegheny County. As conditions change, we will balance making decisions using the most information available and providing timely, research-based guidance to our arriving students and wider community. We look forward to the launch of the new year as we welcome our newest graduate students on Monday.
Thursday, June 02, 2022

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ COVID-19 Update

I write to you today with updates regarding our COVID-19 risk mitigation strategy. University leadership has been tracking the increase in COVID-19 cases in our region, due in large part to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2.12.1 subvariant. On Friday, May 27, the CDC listed Allegheny County as an area of high transmissibility (COVID-19 by County | CDC). While our ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ community continues to experience cases of COVID-19, the vast majority of those cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. This is due in large part to our high vaccination and booster rates.
Friday, April 15, 2022

ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ COVID-19 Update

As anticipated, with the arrival of the BA.2 subvariant and its high transmissibility, there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases nationally, locally and within the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ community. Given our highly vaccinated and boosted ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ community, the cases we are seeing generally range from asymptomatic to mild. As we have communicated previously, cases are no longer the critical metric, and we are increasingly focused on the severity of outcomes and the availability of medical care.
Thursday, March 17, 2022

Changes to COVID-19 Facial Covering, Gathering Requirements

I write today with updates to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s COVID-19 policies related to facial coverings and gatherings. University leadership has been tracking the declining caseloads and pressures on our health care system, both nationally and locally. We have also continued our consultation with experts at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University Health Services, the Allegheny Health Network and peer institutions.
Friday, March 04, 2022

COVID-19 Preparations for Spring Break

I write today with updates to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ’s COVID-19 policies related to the Daily Self-Assessment, classroom notifications, and isolation and quarantine requirements. As we begin Spring Break, our campus remains in a Transitional Posture with near capacity in-person classes and activities.
Monday, January 24, 2022

Campus Posture Change to Transitional

Today, we write with updates to our previously announced campus posture. As we collectively manage and balance the impact of the pandemic, we continue to be inspired by our community's strong commitment to one another.
Thursday, January 13, 2022

Please Upload Your Booster Information Into the Database Today

As we look toward the first day of classes next week, we write to remind you of our previously announced booster requirement. This is yet another critical tool in our COVID-19 mitigation plans as we approach the start of the spring semester. Vaccinations and subsequent booster shots have proven to be safe and highly effective in reducing the severity of symptoms and risk of hospitalization, and preliminary indications are that boosters will prove to be an effective defense against severe symptoms with the Omicron variant as well.
Thursday, January 06, 2022

Important Update ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ the Start of Spring Semester

As we prepare for the spring term, we continue to monitor the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, which medical experts forecast will reach its peak in mid-to-late January. While there is accumulating evidence that Omicron causes less severe illness, its extreme transmissibility remains concerning. Today, we announce our decision to shift to a Modified Campus Posture for the start of the spring semester. This means that the first two weeks of most courses for undergraduate and graduate students will be taught via synchronous remote instruction (January 18-30). While the majority of courses will be delivered remotely, courses designated in SIO and S3 as in-person only (IPO) will continue as planned with proper mitigation procedures in place. Instructions on how to view course delivery modalities may be found on The HUB website for students and the Enrollment Services website for faculty. We anticipate a return to in-person classes on January 31.
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