COVID Update: Return to Alert Level Blue

Email highlights

• Based on steadily decreasing positivity rates on campus and in the region, we will move to alert level blue on Monday, Feb. 7
• Please review the mask requirements in this message that pertain to alert level blue
• We are offering two on-campus booster clinics, by appointment only--one this afternoon from 1 to 4 pm at 1600 Community Commons and another on Feb. 8
• For those who are fully vaccinated, including the booster, we will begin a reduced testing schedule as of Monday, Feb. 7

Dear DU Students, Staff & Faculty,

As we move into February, COVID-19 conditions on campus, in Denver, and across the nation are showing marked improvement. As you can see on the DU COVID-19 dashboard, our 7-day positivity is under 2.5% and our 14-day positivity is under 3.5%. Although the positivity rates in Denver and statewide are still above 10%, they are dropping rapidly, and, importantly, new hospital admissions are also down. In response to these improving conditions, we will move to alert level blue effective Monday, Feb. 7.

As stated in the COVID-19 Protocol for Face Coverings and Social Distancing, in alert level blue:

Fully vaccinated DU students, personnel, and visitors can remove their High Quality Masks (N95 or KN95 masks or, if N95 or KN95 masks are not available, surgical masks that are three-ply or better) indoors when in groups of 2 and when actively speaking/performing at least 12 feet from others, but must replace their High Quality Masks when not actively speaking/performing. These individuals must wear their High Quality Masks indoors for all classes and in-person meetings/events with 3 or more people.

The requirement to wear a High Quality Mask remains the same for Unvaccinated and Not Fully Vaccinated DU students, personnel, vendors, and visitors during alert level blue as in alert level yellow.
In alert level blue, events do not require individual review and clearance. As communicated in the Chancellor’s December 17, 2021 message, all University faculty, students, and staff who are subject to DU’s vaccination requirement must have received a booster vaccine for COVID-19 by January 31, 2022, or as soon thereafter as they become eligible. To date, compliance with our booster requirement is strong. If you have not yet received your booster, we will have two on campus clinics – one later today (Friday, February 4th) and one on Tuesday, February 8th – both in the Community Commons. Please make an appointment here.

Effective Monday, February 7, individuals with verified booster records in their Myhealth account will test at a reduced frequency. We hope to see conditions continuing to rapidly improve. We appreciate your compliance with our mandatory testing, face covering, and vaccination protocols and look forward to being in a position to reduce the alert level still further in the upcoming weeks.

Sarah Watamura, COVID Coordinator & the COVID-19 Response Team