Reimplementing COVID precautions
March 25, 2022
Dear Brandeis Community Members,
As you have noticed if you look at the COVID-19 dashboard, we are currently experiencing the highest number of quarantining and isolating students at any point since COVID arrived. Our contact tracing data indicate that spread is coming mainly from student indoor, off-campus gatherings. Currently, we have very few faculty or staff cases.
It is disappointing and frustrating for all of us to be here at this time, when cases are falling nationwide, and we had hoped to continue enjoying a more normal environment. But what we are learning from our data is that it is still vital to mask in large groups, especially indoors.
To limit spread in residence halls and off-campus housing, we are continuing to adhere to our five-day quarantine protocol for close contacts. We know that many students are frustrated at having to quarantine when they are identified as close contacts. We are seeing a high percentage of close contacts convert to positive cases, who are then required to isolate for even more time. Failure to take common-sense protections results in significant inconveniences even for those who do not become ill. Having so many students quarantining and isolating also has a huge impact on the faculty and staff who support students, stretching our campus resources.
The new sub-variant of Omicron appears to be very contagious, and we suspect this is what we are seeing in the spread among our students, as over 50% of cases in New England are now the BA.2 variant. These cases are frequently resulting in more flu-like symptoms, requiring longer isolation periods.
None of us want to turn back the clock to the measures we had in place at the beginning of the semester, but our current situation warrants some additional restrictions.
Effective Monday 3/28, for events or gatherings with 20 or more attendees:
- Masking is required.
- Brandeis community members must display a green passport only (not yellow) to attend any gathering at which food (including cookies, coffee, pizza or other snacks) is served. Masks are required at such gatherings if they involve more than 20 people, except while eating and drinking.
These adjustments, while minor, will help to ensure that any spread is limited at higher-risk activities on campus and will help prevent us from needing to take further measures. With April break, finals, and Commencement in the not-too-distant future, the last thing anyone wants is to return to more significant restrictions. Actions off-campus affect our community on-campus, and we need everyone to recommit to our community solidarity: If you are holding or attending an off-campus gathering, please wear your mask.
Sincerely,
Carol A. Fierke, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Stew Uretsky, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Raymond Lu-Ming Ou, Vice President of Student Affairs
Note: the original message to the community mistakenly listed Monday, March 23 as the effective date.