Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Coronavirus Update 12-30-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

What to Do If You Test Positive During Break -- Masking -- Social Distancing -- Stay Home if You Feel Sick -- Testing for Employees -- Booster Clinics -- Study and Travel Abroad.

Coronavirus Update 12-21-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As we prepare for what appears to be a challenging January, we want to remind you of the need to receive a booster shot before your return to campus after the Christmas break if you are eligible or no later than March 1.

Coronavirus Update 12-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to thank you all again for your commitment to the Pioneer Promise this semester. That commitment on the part of the entire community helped us keep the number of positive cases very low and avoid the kind of big spikes that some of our neighboring colleges and universities experienced.

Links To Weekend Booster Clinics (12/11 And 12/12), The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

These clinics will be expanded to 200 slots. The link will stop working when the clinic is full.

Coronavirus Update 12-2-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

By now, we are sure you have heard about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. It originated in South Africa or Europe, and the first U.S. case has been identified in California.

Coronavirus Update 11-16-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to take a moment to thank you and congratulate you for the attention you have paid to the Pioneer Promise this semester. As a result, our COVID numbers have been low (as of today we have one active case in our community) and we have been able to gather and hold many events that we missed out on last year.

Coronavirus Update 11-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Pre-holiday Testing: We are offering the opportunity to be tested for those who want to ensure they are negative before traveling home.

Coronavirus Update 10-27-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

There is new guidance from the CDC regarding the time frame in which vaccinated people should be tested if they were a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

Coronavirus Update 10-21-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We hope you are as excited about Family Weekend as we are. The forecast is calling for crisp fall weather that will be perfect for the activities planned. We are pleased to tell you that we will be relaxing our rule about family members in the residence halls for Family Weekend.

Coronavirus Update 10-13-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to share that—in conjunction with Hartford HealthCare—we will be offering a clinic for Pfizer booster shots for those who received the Pfizer vaccine.

Coronavirus Update 10-7-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As of today, we continue to have low COVID numbers (three cases currently) in the SHU community. This is encouraging.

Coronavirus Update 9-23-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As of today, we have 22 COVID cases in the SHU community. This is great news, and we have YOU to thank—in particular, our students. We want to thank you for all you have done to keep yourselves and others safe.

Coronavirus Update 9-16-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We had all hoped that the vaccine would allow us to return to pre-pandemic days but, unfortunately, the rise of the highly transmissible delta variant has meant that we need to be patient a little longer. That said, and despite the need for indoor masking, life on campus is much different than it was a year ago.

Coronavirus Update 9-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Beginning this week, we have reinstituted a version of our COVID dashboard. Today’s dashboard shows 50 active cases in the SHU community. This is concerning as we don’t want to have to impose further restrictions, and we certainly don’t want to revert to remote learning.

Coronavirus Update 9-2-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We continue to have students, faculty and staff express concerns about members of the community who are either not wearing their masks indoors or are wearing them incorrectly. The graphic below illustrates the correct and incorrect ways to wear a mask.

Coronavirus Update 8-31-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Wear a Mask Indoors! As you know, we are requiring that everyone wear a mask when indoors, except in their dorm rooms with only roommates present or alone in offices for faculty and staff. Unfortunately, we have observed a significant number of students who are not adhering to this mandate. To be compliant, you need to be wearing a mask that completely covers your nose and mouth.

Coronavirus Update 8-27-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to say welcome to the Class of 2025 who have been moving in yesterday and today. We just have a few quick reminders for you as we get ready for the start of the fall semester.

Coronavirus Update 8-24-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Today we want to focus on the procedures and protocols you follow if you have COVID symptoms or if you test positive for COVID. The CampusClear app can also help you with this, so please make sure that you are checking in with the app each morning before you head outside.

Coronavirus Update 8-20-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Thanks to all of you who joined our town hall meeting for students and parents last night. We hope your questions were answered. Because of the impending storm (see below), we have moved the faculty and staff town hall to Tuesday at 3:30.

Coronavirus Update 8-17-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are looking forward to meeting with you in the coming days to answer your questions about protocols for fall.

Coronavirus Update 8-13-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We continue to prepare for your arrival with great excitement for the year ahead. Today is the deadline for uploading proof of your first vaccine (or single vaccine if you received Johnson & Johnson) or your request for a medical or religious exemption.

Coronavirus Update 8-10-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are sharing this year’s version of the Pioneer Promise. While it remains a commitment to one another to follow protocols that will keep the community safe, it has been adapted to reflect fewer restrictions and procedures as we move toward more normalcy on campus. Just like last year, students, faculty and staff will be asked to sign the Pioneer Promise before the semester begins.

*Correction* Coronavirus Update 8-6-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

CORRECTION: The following statement from this morning’s coronavirus message was incorrect. Upperclassmen will move in on Sunday, August 29, not August 28. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Coronavirus Update 8-6-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As you know, the rise of the delta variant has put a little bit of a damper on things by necessitating, for now, that everyone wears masks indoors whether vaccinated or not. We know you are disappointed—we all are. But it is a small price to pay for the health and safety of our community. Here are some things we know about COVID-19 and the delta variant.

Coronavirus Update 7-30-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Message Highlights

1. Students, faculty and staff will need to have at least one dose of the vaccine before coming back to campus. Students must upload their proof of vaccination (even if it is only a first dose) to their SPA health portal.
2. Everyone needs to have their second injection by September 15 and will need to upload the information by that date.
3. Students may apply for a religious or medical exemption.
4. Unvaccinated students with an approved exemption will need to provide a negative PCR test taken within five days prior to their arrival on campus.
5. As part of our attempt …

Update Coronavirus Update 7-30-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

It has just been announced that the CDC is including Fairfield County as an area with substantial COVID-19 community transmission. Consequently, as of now we will be putting an indoor masking requirement in place until further notice.

Coronavirus Update For July 23, 2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

One thing we have learned during this 18-month battle with COVID-19 is that things are constantly changing and, if we want to stay safe, we need to keep up with the latest news. We are aware of the recent rise in COVID Delta variant cases around the country, and in the state, as well as the number of our athletic and clinical partners who are now requiring the vaccine. As a result, and in consultation with state and local health officials, we have made the decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff who plan to be …

Coronavirus Update 7/9/21: Please Update Your Vaccination Information, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

The University’s senior leaders and the coronavirus planning team are in the process of determining policies for the fall semester that will be based on how many in our community have been vaccinated.

Coronavirus Update 6-18-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Given the current state of the virus, and the widespread availability of the vaccine, state and federal public health officials continue to strongly recommend the vaccine but are not requiring it. As a result, the University will follow suit by strongly encouraging, but not mandating, the vaccine for all on campus in the fall.

Coronavirus Update 6-04-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are continuing our planning for a fully on-ground fall semester. Unfortunately, our student vaccination numbers for COVID-19 are much lower than we hoped. If this continues to be the case, we will need to have stricter policies than we envisioned.