Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Coronavirus Update Spring 2024, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back for the spring semester. As we prepare for a rewarding and fun few months, we want to remind you of our COVID protocols.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), levels of the virus are currently higher than they have been since the first Omicron wave. That said, severe outcomes are lower than in previous winters.

Coronavirus Update—What To Do If You Feel Sick 9-21-23, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As we head into cold and flu season and as COVID cases continue to rise both on campus and around the country, we want to remind you that COVID is currently considered an endemic—like the flu—rather than the pandemic we experienced three years ago.

Coronavirus Update 9-7-23, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Many of you are already aware that a new strain has caused an uptick in COVID cases across the nation. In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, we want to remind you please not to go to class or work if you are feeling sick.

Coronavirus Update—Tests Available And Other Reminders 9/16, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to remind everyone that the University has home tests and masks available to anyone who needs them.

Coronavirus Update—Report Positive Test Results, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to remind everyone that you need to self-report if you test positive for COVID-19.

Monkeypox Guidelines 8-18-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to share some information with you regarding the monkeypox virus and the process should there be cases on campus. As always, we will be following CDC guidelines and the advice of state and local health officials.

Coronavirus Update 8-4-2022, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

With most students coming to campus in just a few weeks, we want to fill you in on our COVID protocols as we start the year.

Coronavirus Update 5-11-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

With the end of the semester, we have shut down the COVID dashboard. We will evaluate the need for it in the future based on the status of the virus.

Coronavirus Update 4-28-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

With the semester coming to a close, there are a few things we wanted to share with you about testing. This week will be the last week of mandatory testing.

Coronavirus Update 4-5-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Based on current numbers and trends and in accordance with CDC guidance, we will recommend vaccination, but not require it, for the fall. Vaccination has been one component of our strategy, along with testing, tracing, isolation, quarantine, masking, hygiene and social distancing. We will continue to follow the way the virus evolves and listen to the advice of state and local health officials, and we will let you know over the summer as decisions are made on our testing, isolation and other strategies for the fall.

Coronavirus Update 3-23-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

There will be a booster clinic on campus this coming Saturday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Edgerton Center atrium. The clinic will be open to SHU community members and their family and friends.

Coronavirus Update 3-10-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As you know, the deadline for employees to receive a booster shot was March 1, and the deadline for students is March 15. Anyone who has received an exemption or has not complied with the booster deadline will need to be tested weekly throughout the remainder of the semester. We also recommend that those who have not been vaccinated and/or received a booster wear a mask indoors.

Coronavirus Update 3-3-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We have scheduled a booster clinic on campus on Saturday.

We want to remind you to make sure you have picked up your at-home COVID test before you leave for break. Please take the test the morning that you first plan to return to campus.

Coronavirus Update 2-24-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Given the low numbers of positive cases on campus and the trends at other campuses and in towns and cities in the area, we are modifying our indoor mask mandate, effective March 1.

Coronavirus Update 2-10-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

The Connecticut Governor’s state-wide mask mandate for K-12 schools is set to expire at the end of this month, leaving the decision up to local communities. Because the CDC still lists Fairfield County as a high-transmission area and, on the advice of state and local health officials, Sacred Heart will continue to require indoor masking for the time being.

Coronavirus Update 2-3-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

There will be two booster clinics on campus this weekend that will be open to students, faculty and staff and their family members.

Coronavirus Update 1-27-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Today’s dashboard shows 57 positive cases. We are lifting the additional restrictions that we announced at the beginning of the semester. To help with the severe shortage of blood on-campus blood drives are planned.

Coronavirus Update 1-21-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Students who are unvaccinated and those who have been randomly selected will need to register for testing next week.

Coronavirus Update 1-20-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

There has been some confusion about the process if you test positive through a test not administered by the University. The graphic below explains the process.

We have partnered with our public health program to facilitate COVID-related communications.

Sacred Heart University is becoming a JED Campus.

Coronavirus Update 1-13-2022, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As you know, we have been extremely successful keeping the community safe and the number of COVID cases low. This has been a result of vaccinations, testing and your diligence with masking and other safety protocols. Because the omicron variant is so highly transmissible, it presents some different challenges than we have previously faced, but nothing that we can’t handle.

Coronavirus Update 1-6-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Updated CDC Guidelines for Quarantining and Isolating

The CDC recently updated its guidelines for quarantining and isolating. We delayed implementing the new guidelines, because we expected the CDC to release more specific guidance for institutions of higher education. After consulting with state and local health officials, we have decided to move forward with the new guidelines. When the CDC does release guidelines for higher education, we will review them and may update our protocols accordingly. We are sharing some highlights of the new guidelines below, but the guidance is constantly changing, and you can find the most up-to-the-minute decisions on …

Coronavirus Update 1-4-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are continuing to review new guidance from the CDC and the transmission of omicron in the state and in the University community. We will have more information for you later this week.

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.