To Lafayette students, faculty, and staff:
Last week, President Nicole Hurd announced the expansion of the vaccination requirement to include all members of the campus community. This is an important step in helping us regain access to the broadest range of in-person activities.
While there is no way to completely eliminate risk, here are some steps we are taking to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19:
- Requiring proof of vaccination from all members of the community with very limited exceptions for medical and religious reasons.
- Requiring regular COVID-19 testing for those who qualify for exemptions to the vaccine requirement.
- Requiring masking in public spaces including all classrooms, administrative buildings, libraries, laboratories, and the fitness center in accordance with the updated CDC guidance for vaccinated individuals in communities where there is substantial or high spread of COVID-19.
- Provide on-site testing for students who are symptomatic regardless of vaccination status.
- Enhancing air filtration in numerous buildings by installing MERV-13 filters and making adjustments to provide the most air exchanges possible.
- Installing approximately 80 HEPA filters in classrooms without central filtration or air exchanges.
- Distributing sanitizing wipes to classrooms before the start of the semester.
Here are some things individuals can do to help us be safer together:
- Always carry a mask, wear it properly indoors, even in areas where it is not required, and have it ready outdoors.
- Practice good hand hygiene and cover your cough!
- Stay home if you do not feel well and get a COVID-19 test if you have symptoms, even if you are fully vaccinated.
- Keep track of your close contacts to make it easier for contact tracers to move quickly in case you test positive.
- Have a plan for what you will do if you test positive. Know how you will keep up with your academic work, how you might travel home (if within 300 miles), and keep a list of what you will need with you if in isolation either here or at home.
- Do more outside. Informal and social group activities are prime events to hold outdoors. Use the beautiful campus we share to make connections and meet new people. When activities must take place indoors, spread out as much as possible.
- Consider that you will not know if someone you are interacting with is at increased risk and do not wait for someone to ask you to mask up or keep sufficient distance away.
Remember that small actions can help keep everyone safer. We look forward to a year of learning and living together and are very excited to welcome you to campus in the coming days.
Sincerely,
Lafayette’s COVID-19 Action Group
covid-19@lafayette.edu