COVID-19 Update: Additional Protocols for Fall Term
Dear 快活app community,
On behalf听of听the COVID-19 Coordinator Team, welcome! We look forward to supporting a vibrant, in-person fall term.
With dedicated attention, we enjoyed a successful 2020-21 academic year amid highly uncertain conditions and largely without vaccination. This year, we face a new set听of听circumstances--improved protection via vaccination but also an evolving pandemic due to new variants听of听the virus. With our health partner, National Jewish Health, and in collaboration with public health agencies, 快活app will continue to respond quickly and strategically to changing conditions. You can view the current COVID-19 mitigation protocols anytime at听
Below are some听of听this fall鈥檚 most significant protocols, in addition to the听information听shared by Chancellor Haefner earlier this week.
Pre-Term Checklist
- Submit proof听of听COVID-19 vaccination or request an exemption no later than Sept. 1.
- Complete required test for COVID-19 on campus. Non-快活app tests will not be accepted as we reintegrate during the first few weeks听of听the fall term.
- Receive 鈥渃leared鈥 campus access status (found under Campus Access Status on your PioneerWeb homepage).
Vaccination
Submit your vaccination record or request an exemption allowing time for verification and approval by your fall term start date, and no later than September 1 on听MyHealth. Visit the Health & Counseling Center COVID-19听immunization page听for directions on submitting your vaccination record or information about vaccination exemptions. For information on which vaccines are accepted and other details, consult our听vaccination protocol.
Accessing Campus and Buildings
To enter buildings on campus, you will need to 鈥渂adge in鈥 using your 快活app ID card. Your 快活app ID card will allow you to enter academic and community buildings once you have completed the fall term checklist and have 鈥渃leared鈥 campus access status. Every individual needs to badge in each time you enter a building.
Required Testing
On-campus testing locations and hours are available听here. Saliva听补苍诲听nasal testing will be available at the beginning听of听term from September 6 鈥 24 when we are testing more frequently. Afterward, we will use only the saliva method through the fall term. After the first few weeks听of听the term, if you prefer a nasal swab test, you may submit an external, non-快活app nasal swab RT-PCR.
On Arrival
Complete your first test for COVID-19 within 48 hours before your planned arrival on campus or, if you cannot do so, you may test on arrival.
If you have a verified exemption, you are required to self-quarantine until you receive your test results. If you have not yet received either a verified exemption or submitted your vaccination record, you must stay off campus until these documents are verified.
If you received a positive test for COVID-19 in the past 90 days and that result is documented in MyHealth, you should not complete a COVID-19 test upon arrival, per CDC recommendations. For questions about this circumstance, please contact听covidcoordinator@du.edu.
If you test positive upon arrival, you are required to isolate until at least 10 days after symptoms first appeared, you have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication and other symptoms are improving. If you test positive and are asymptomatic, you can stop isolating 10 days after the positive test.
Throughout the Fall Term
Regular testing for COVID-19 is required for all community members. Everyone must test twice at the start听of听their fall term (August for Law, September for the rest听of听campus) and then follow their individualized testing schedule until informed otherwise. Access your testing schedule under 鈥渃ampus access status鈥 on your PioneerWeb homepage. Your assigned testing frequency depends on the circumstances听of听your role or cohort.
Additional Protocols
- We are closely monitoring CDC guidance and are in communication with the听Denver听Department听of听Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) regarding face coverings. At this time, if you are vaccinated, you are not required but may choose to wear a mask indoors. Vaccination rates are very high on campus, and we are actively testing our population. We have a very low positivity rate and excellent capacity to quickly isolate and quarantine.
- Unvaccinated residential students will not share a bedroom with vaccinated students.
- Face coverings are required for everyone, regardless听of听vaccination status, in the Fisher Early Learning Center, Ricks Center for Gifted Children, Health & Counseling Center, certain on-campus clinics, while serving or preparing food, at the SPIT lab and collections sites, and during certain events as designated.
- No eating in classrooms.
- Everyone, regardless听of听vaccination status, should seek a COVID-19 test if they experience any symptoms. Please self-quarantine while you wait for your results and until symptoms improve.
Please remember that people choose to wear face coverings for many reasons. They may be immunocompromised, caring for a vulnerable person, living with someone unvaccinated, including small children currently without access to a vaccine, or because they themselves are unvaccinated for personal reasons. 快活app is a compassionate, respectful community. Let鈥檚 embody these values as we come together on campus by treating one another with kindness and avoiding assumptions.
We are excited to welcome the community back to campus for the fall term and look forward to fewer restrictions thanks to widespread vaccination. Please review our听听as well as our detailed听Sustaining a Community听of听Care Action Plan听for more information on our approach to fall 2021.
The听Arrival Help Center will be in the Garden room听of听the Chamber Center (1901 E. Asbury Ave.) from September 5-20. The center will be open 8 a.m.鈥8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m.鈥4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The COVID-19 coordinator team is always available to support you and answer questions. For emergencies, or to report a positive COVID-19 test or exposure, please call 303-871-COVD (2683) or email听reportCOVID@du.edu. For information about the SPIT program or lab, please call 303-549-8867. For all other inquiries and non-urgent questions, please email听COVIDcoordinator@du.edu听or call 303-656-7137.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely, 听
Sarah Watamura
COVID-19 Coordinator on behalf听of听the COVID-19 Coordinator Team