March 25, 2022
A Message from Sr. Christine De Vinne, OSU, PhD, President
In accordance with CDC recommendations given Cuyahoga County’s low level of community spread of COVID-19, effective Monday, March 28, masks are optional across campus, including in classrooms, with some exceptions.
What are the exceptions?
- Mask wearing remains mandatory in science labs and Nursing Resource Center spaces (main skills lab, health assessment lab, and simulation room), given the length of time that students and faculty spend near one another there and the NRC’s modeling of the clinical environment, where masks are still required.
- After returning to campus from five days of isolation (because you had COVID-19 symptoms, or tested positive, or were exposed to someone who tested positive) you are expected to wear a mask on campus for an additional five days in accordance with the CDC’s current isolation recommendations.
- Athletes will continue to abide by NCAA rules regarding masking.
- CDC still recommends masks indoors for those not up to date with vaccines (which the CDC defines as those greater than six months from their second dose or greater than two months from their first dose without a booster), and those with underlying health conditions.
- You may be asked to wear a mask during a meeting or in a classroom, either due to proximity or due to individual vulnerability. Some members of our community, including students, faculty, and staff, may have underlying medical conditions, live with someone who has medical conditions, or have other circumstances which require them to continue to exercise caution. Any time you are asked to wear a mask, I count on you to do so, exercising respect, one of our four core values.
What about testing?
- Surveillance testing of those not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines will be paused while Cuyahoga County remains in the low transmission level but will resume in accordance with CDC guidelines if another surge occurs.
- Current CDC recommendations for low transmission level areas call for testing at the beginning of each semester for those not up to date with vaccination.
What does low community spread mean?
COVID-19 community levels are the CDC’s new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Cuyahoga County is currently at low community level.
Do we still need to report Symptoms, exposure or positive tests?
Yes. Students, faculty and staff should continue to report COVID symptoms, exposure and positive tests.
Students:
- Report symptoms, exposure, or positive COVID test results by completing this COVID Reporting Form (you may need to be logged in to your Ursuline account to access this)
- For questions about COVID, please contact COVIDHelp@ursuline.edu
- Submit new or updated vaccination information to this email address: vaxcard@ursuline.edu
Faculty & Staff:
- Email Kelli Knaus at kknaus@ursuline.edu to report COVID symptoms, exposure, or positive test results, or to submit new or updated vaccination information
Are these rule changes permanent?
We continue to monitor recommendations of the CDC, Ohio Department of Health, and Cuyahoga County Board of Health and we continue to watch our community level as defined by the CDC. Should we see a spike or receive guidance from CCBH or CDC, we may reinstate masking, testing, and other protocols.
