Tag: UMass

  • COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center: March 31

    COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center: March 31

    Pricey Campus Neighborhood,

    As a reminder, be sure to notice that currently is the previous working day that UMass Amherst will provide as a Stop the Distribute community screening site. We all over again would like to thank all the pupil employees, team, supporters and neighborhood users who participated in this system and the Baker-Polito administration for economical support that enabled the system.

    The UMass Amherst testing center will continue to be open and available to college, employees, college students and users of their family, and college sponsored guests. All suitable men and women can proceed to arrive to the General public Well being Advertising Middle (PHPC) to pick up screening kits as required.

    Before this week, the Centers for Ailment Management current its tips to enable people today above the age of 50 and sure immunocompromised people to obtain a second mRNA booster shot at minimum 4 months soon after their 1st booster. These boosters are obtainable at the PHPC. Vaccine clinics are offered on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. by means of April 30. Wander-ins will be approved, but we inspire all people to guide an appointment. Please stop by the Massachusetts COVID-19 booster Commonly Asked Inquiries for extra details about eligibility.

    We carry on to keep track of COVID-19 trends in our neighborhood by our symptomatic, adaptive and voluntary testing program as very well as wastewater surveillance. The most recent COVID-19 tests facts for the UMass community for March 23-29 demonstrates 49 new optimistic cases. The university’s positivity fee is 1.87{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, in comparison to past week’s charge of 2.89{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}. The state’s 7-day positivity fee is 2.25{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}. Men and women testing beneficial keep on to report they are going through small to moderate indicators of infection and there are no hospitalizations to report.

    Make sure you go on to keep an eye on by yourself for COVID-19 signs or symptoms every working day in advance of coming to campus. If you feel unwell, continue to be household and get tested. College Wellness Providers has symptomatic screening available for learners, or, if you have an unobserved check kit on hand you can drop it off at 1 of the campus kiosks.

    KN95 masks keep on being readily available for cost-free at the Community Health Marketing Middle in the Campus Heart, and as a local community we encourage anyone to respect the alternatives that people make about their personal masking.

    Thank you for all that you’re doing — being home when sick, tests when you have signs and symptoms, and supporting each individual other as part of our local community.

    Sincerely,

    Co-Administrators of the Public Wellbeing Marketing Middle (PHPC)

    Ann Becker, General public Well being Director
    Jeffrey Hescock, Executive Director of Environmental Health and fitness and Safety 

  • COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center: March 31

    COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center: March 24

    Pricey Campus Group,

    Right now we are asserting adjustments to COVID-19 testing amenities positioned at UMass Amherst. Next the state’s determination to downsize its Prevent the Spread screening application and conclude funding for the campus’ neighborhood tests internet site, the final working day of tests for non-UMass neighborhood members will be Thursday, March 31. The UMass Amherst testing centre, centered in the Campus Centre, will go on to provide pupils, school and staff and members of their households, as effectively as college-sponsored site visitors.

    Given that the UMass Amherst Prevent the Unfold spot opened in December 2021, extra than 95,000 checks had been carried out for local community members. We want to thank all the pupil staff members, workers, supporters and local community customers who participated in the Halt the Spread plan and the Baker-Polito administration for funding this critical support.

    Vaccine clinics resumed this week and are presented on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. till April 30. Walk-ins will be acknowledged, but we encourage anyone to ebook an appointment.

    We continue on to observe COVID-19 tendencies in our neighborhood through our symptomatic, adaptive and voluntary tests method as properly as wastewater surveillance. The hottest COVID-19 tests facts for the UMass community for March 16-22 exhibits 39 new beneficial cases. Persons screening beneficial continue to report they are going through nominal to reasonable signs or symptoms of infection and there are no hospitalizations to report. The university’s positivity charge is 2.30{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, in contrast to past week’s fee of 1.83{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}. The state’s 7-day positivity rate is 1.91{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}.

    Make sure you proceed to keep track of oneself for COVID-19 signs and symptoms every working day prior to coming to campus. If you really feel unwell, remain household and get examined. College Wellness Expert services has symptomatic screening available for learners, or, if you have an unobserved exam package on hand you can fall it off at just one of the campus kiosks.

    KN95 masks continue to be accessible for totally free at the Public Health Advertising Centre (PHPC) in the Campus Middle, and as a community we motivate all people to respect the selections that individuals will make about their own masking.

    Thank you for all that you are doing — keeping residence when sick, screening when you have signs, and supporting each and every other as section of our community.

    Sincerely,

    Co-Administrators of the General public Overall health Advertising Centre (PHPC)

    Ann Becker, General public Overall health Director
    Jeffrey Hescock, Govt Director of Environmental Health and Protection

  • COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center: March 31

    COVID-19 Update on Mask Requirements from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center

    January 13, 2021

    Dear Campus Neighborhood,

    The college is closely checking the recent COVID-19 instances affecting our campus group, Massachusetts and the country. The latest COVID-19 tests details for the UMass community from Jan. 5-11 reveals 377 new positive scenarios. The university’s cumulative positivity rate is 7.56{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, down from previous week’s charge of 13.21{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}. The state’s 7-day positivity level is 21.61{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}.

    The Omicron variant is now apparent in all favourable COVID-19 assessments performed on campus. UMass is updating its prerequisites for face coverings as we shift ahead with in-human being teaching, understanding and investigate functions for the spring semester. All people really should use a bigger-quality mask, these as KN95, KF94, or N95, or double-mask. Cloths masks are not productive in limiting the distribute of omicron and ought to only be made use of in double masking, with a shut-fitting surgical mask underneath.

    This earlier week, we figured out that a UMass Amherst employee died as the outcome of COVID-19. This is the first time that an active personnel has died from COVID-19 due to the fact the begin of the pandemic. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his relatives, mates and campus colleagues.

    Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 18 the General public Wellness Advertising Middle (PHPC) will adopt the follow of offering only unobserved assessments. Unobserved tests kits are offered at the PHPC on the reduced degree of the Campus Heart in the course of PHPC working several hours. Campus kiosks for return of exam kits are now open just about every working day, 24 several hours for every day. Tests dropped off Monday through Thursday will have effects obtainable inside of 24 to 48 hours. Outcomes from exams carried out on Friday as a result of Sunday are ready the subsequent Monday night or Tuesday.

    Remember to Observe: Monday, Jan. 17  is Martin Luther King Jr. Working day and the PHPC is closed. Results from checks done Friday through Monday this week will be all set Tuesday evening or Wednesday.

    As we in the vicinity of the third calendar year of the pandemic, it is very clear that COVID-19 will be existing for the foreseeable foreseeable future. Importantly, we have learned that vaccinations, boosters and wearing masks indoors enable protect against spikes of severely unwell individuals. The present scientific facts displays that those who are vaccinated and boosted and turn into contaminated are often asymptomatic or knowledge gentle indications.

     

    BOOSTER Pictures

    All qualified UMass college students, faculty and workers are required to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. It is significant that all individuals qualified get the booster shot prior to the get started of the semester. In accordance with CDC pointers, acquiring your booster shot will exempt you from the will need to quarantine if you are a close call of a good situation.  You can make an appointment for a booster shot by pinpointing a spot via the Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccine finder or Vaccines.gov

    Tests

    Progress Tests: College students be sure to submit your progress COVID-19 test in the mail by this Friday, Jan. 14. You also have other possibilities to submit an progress test in advance of the start out of the semester. College and Workers need to take a COVID-19 PCR exam by subsequent Tuesday, Jan. 18.

    If you exam optimistic, here is the course of action of notification and the techniques you will have to take:

    Irrespective of your vaccination standing, you will have to isolate for a minimal of 5 times. If you have no signs or your signs are resolved following five days, you can depart your dwelling and must don a mask all-around some others for five more days. If your exam was not completed at UMass Amherst, you need to isolate in location and report your effects to the PHPC quickly at [email protected].

    For individuals who just take checks at UMass Amherst:

    • UMass college, team and learners who examination positive will receive an e mail from [email protected] with lab success. If you are beneficial, you ought to isolate immediately. The UMass Community Wellbeing Workforce assessments all positive outcomes and will send out abide by-up info to your e-mail deal with. These e-mail are sent out all through the working day.
       
    • Neighborhood members who test optimistic will get an e-mail from [email protected] with lab benefits. Make sure you refer to the Massachusetts Section of Community Wellness Guidance for Isolation. If you have any concerns, remember to call your nearby board of health and fitness.

    All people must go on to keep track of by themselves for COVID-19 indications each day prior to coming to campus. If you truly feel unwell, stay residence.

    Thank you for all you are carrying out to treatment for yourselves and a person one more, and to assistance the well being of our group.

    Sincerely,

    Co-Directors of the Public Well being Marketing Center (PHPC)

    Ann Becker, Community Wellness Director
    Jeffrey Hescock, Government Director of Environmental Health and fitness and Security