COVID-19 Public Health Update: Effective Tuesday, April 19, Masking at Level Blue

Dear Pupils, Faculty, Staff members and People:

With significantly less than four weeks to go in the spring semester, our campus is commencing to working experience an uptick in COVID situations, a trend that is consistent with what is developing across the region and in this article in Onondaga County. As we solution the end of yr routines, including last tasks and tests, and Graduation exercise routines, it is crucial that we get acceptable action to minimize the impact of COVID bacterial infections on academic results and experiences. Which is why, effective Tuesday, April 19, our campus will changeover to COVID stage “Blue.”

What does this motion suggest for you?

Masking level Blue implies an elevated amount of transmission danger on campus and stipulates the adhering to recommendations on campus:

• For all college students, faculty and staff who are vaccinated and boosted:
  • Masks Expected at all moments:
    • During educational instruction (inclusive of school rooms, laboratories, libraries and lecture venues) and
    • During non-academic events and in certain amenities, as decided by a general public wellness possibility evaluation. These exceptions will be communicated directly as correct, to include things like the installation of signage as essential.
  • Masks Strongly Advisable:
    • When indoors on campus, and outdoors in the existence of others.
  • For vaccine-exempt men and women (approved spiritual or healthcare exemption), or if you have not nevertheless acquired a booster dose of the COVID vaccine:
    • Masks are necessary at all moments and in all amenities although on campus, and though outside when in the existence of some others.

Why was this choice created?

Late very last 7 days the U.S. Centers for Illness Control and Prevention expanded its recommendation for indoor masking from Onondaga and Oswego counties, to include things like an additional 8 counties throughout Central New York. This elevated masking recommendation stems from an expanding quantity of new COVID conditions throughout the area, probable ensuing from subvariants of the omicron strain of the COVID virus. These subvariants were first identified in Onondaga County several weeks ago. There is no recent evidence that these subvariants trigger heightened degrees of health issues among vaccinated persons. Even so, these subvariants do surface to be far more contagious. This is probable why we have seasoned an boost in new scenarios and take a look at positivity on campus in excess of the earlier 10 times. Specified the higher vaccination rate amid our campus community, the most current uptick of new conditions on campus has not resulted in heightened amounts of symptomatic sickness among pupils, team and faculty. That claimed, provided that New York State community well being regulation mandates a 5-working day isolation period of time for individuals who exam beneficial, the surge in new instances and related class absences has increasingly disrupted the tutorial expertise.

Public Health Reminders

The greatest way to guard you and people all-around you is to go on following fantastic community wellness techniques, like:

• Get tested! Absolutely free, on-need testing carries on to be obtainable to all asymptomatic college students, college, personnel and households at Kimmel Eating Hall. To critique hrs of operation, make sure you stop by the Stay Safe testing webpage.
• Keep an eye on for signs and symptoms: If you are encountering any COVID-like signs and symptoms, continue to be household. Do not report to do the job or show up at class. For learners emotion sick, get in touch with (do not physically take a look at) Barnes Heart Wellbeing Treatment at 315.443.8000. Please do not take a look at the Barnes Centre right up until you’ve spoken with a team member there by cellular phone. College and personnel dealing with COVID-like signs or symptoms really should stay residence and speak to their key treatment physician.
• Know what to do if you check good: If you are unsure about what techniques you should really acquire if you appear down with COVID, remember to go to the Remain Protected web site to critique our move-by-move response checklists.

As we have explained from the starting, navigating COVID health and coverage concerns—on behalf of all associates of our community—requires patience and flexibility of all people in our community. We will continue to keep track of present-day circumstances and refine our rules based on the most up-to-day facts, science and public overall health assistance. We recognize your continued cooperation and ongoing dedication to preserving a protected and nutritious campus group.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation