Virus Diseases Commons^™

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.

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.

*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.

Euadb: A Resource For Covid-19 Test Development And Comparison, Alyssa Woronik, Henry W. Shaffer, Karin Kiontke, Jon M. Laurent, Ronald Zambrano, Mariah Daley, Jef D. Boeke, David H. Fitch

Biology Faculty Publications

Due to the sheer number of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) cases there is a need for increased world-wide SARS-CoV-2 testing capability that is both efficient and effective. Having open and easy access to detailed information about these tests, their sensitivity, the types of samples they use, etc. would be highly useful to ensure their reproducibility, to help clients compare and decide which tests would be best suited for their applications, and to avoid costs of reinventing similar or identical tests. Additionally, this resource would provide a means of comparing the many innovative diagnostic tools that are currently being developed in …

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.

Return To 100% Capacity/Mask Protocol, Robert Hardy

University Briefings & Virtual Events

In an effort to get back to some sense of normalcy and to begin the important task of preparing for the upcoming fall semester, we have decided to require all faculty and staff to return to campus 100% on-ground by July 6.

Coronavirus Update 5-18-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

As promised, we have re-evaluated our COVID protocols based on the recently released CDC and Connecticut state guidance effective tomorrow. Beginning tomorrow, masks will no longer need to be worn on campus when outside. However, we are asking that everyone remain masked at our commencement exercises happening through this weekend, except when they are at their seats.

Coronavirus Update 5/14/2021: Congratulations On A Great Year, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to take a moment to congratulate the entire SHU community for an outstanding year keeping us on-ground.

Coronavirus Update 5/11/2021: Raffle Winners Announced, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Yesterday, Dr. Petillo drew the names for the winners of our first vaccination raffle.

Coronavirus Update 5/7/2021: Additional Raffle Added, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Undergraduates who have had two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will need to load their vaccination cards to their student health portal over this weekend to be eligible.

Coronavirus Update 5-4-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We want to remind you to upload your vaccination card once you have been fully vaccinated.

Thinking Of And Praying For The Population In India, John J. Petillo

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Today I want to reach out to the Indian members of our community.

Coronavirus Update 4-30-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

New CDC guidelines say that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors unless they are in a large crowd of people.

Coronavirus Update 4-27-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Today, we just have a couple of reminders. We want to remind students and employees to please upload vaccination information to the student health portal or the through the HR questionnaire (for employees). This allows us to determine how close we are to herd immunity and will impact our decision-making regarding COVID protocols for the remainder of this semester and the fall.

Coronavirus Update 4-23-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

Today’s topic is vaccination. Our second SHU-dedicated vaccination clinic is Sunday and there are plenty of appointments available. The clinic is open to everyone in the SHU community.

Coronavirus Update 4-20-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We are pleased to share that we are now opening our dedicated vaccine clinics on Thursday and Sunday to all students, including graduate students, and to faculty and staff. These Pfizer clinics give you the opportunity to conveniently be vaccinated where you attend classes or work.

Coronavirus Update 4-16-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We heard you when you told us through our recent survey that you wanted to be vaccinated on campus. We have worked with the state to receive a supply of the vaccines dedicated to undergraduate students.

Coronavirus Update 4-13-2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team

University Briefings & Virtual Events

We have some good news for you. Since our COVID numbers have continued to be stable following the long Easter weekend, we are going to loosen some of our campus restrictions over these final weeks of the semester.