COVID Update: Returning from Spring Break

Email highlights

• There are protocols students will need to follow when returning from spring break, including obtaining negative COVID-19 tests and quarantining for seven days.
• We are continuing to offer vaccines to eligible faculty and staff, including student workers. When CO enters phase two, general population, we look forward to offering vaccinations to students.
• Even those who are vaccinated must follow our COVID-19 mitigation protocols, including mask wearing, social distancing, and required testing. Required quarantining after travel will not be required, with some exceptions.

Dear DU students,

I hope you were able to get some rest and relaxation over spring break. As we plan for the spring term, below are a few important updates.

Spring Return Protocols
If you have been away from campus and/or you have missed a required scheduled COVID-19 test, you will need to complete the re-entry protocols before returning to campus after spring break. These include:

1. Receive a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of return or at return to campus, followed promptly by a second test following your required testing schedule. Please view your required testing dates on the campus access status portal on the homepage of PioneerWeb. You may complete either a nasal swab or a saliva test for all required testing. Both types of tests can be completed at the testing pod on the north side of the Ritchie Center. Saliva tests can also be completed at Nagel. Nasal swabs need an appointment via myhealth.du.edu. Saliva tests can be done without an appointment.
2. Quarantine for seven days. Log your quarantine in the quarantine log on PioneerWeb (daily quarantine log).
   One exception: If you are fully vaccinated (two weeks past your last vaccination) and you have uploaded your vaccination record to myhealth.du.edu, you do not need to quarantine.

If you need assistance with these steps, the help center is open daily from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. in the Garden Room of the Chambers Center, 1901 East Asbury (corner of Asbury and High street) through Friday, April 2.

Maintain Testing, Mask Wearing, Social Distancing, and Restricted Travel
We enjoyed a very low positivity rate in winter due in large part to excellent compliance with our protocols, including regular testing, and generally favorable conditions in Denver. Thank you. Unfortunately, a number of colleges and universities have seen COVID-19 infection spikes following spring break, and we are seeing an increase in variants in Denver and on campus. Therefore, we will not provide grace periods for missed tests, including for people who are fully vaccinated.

Similarly, masks and social distancing are still required on campus, even for vaccinated individuals. Travel restrictions also remain in place, and quarantine will continue to be required for travel to restricted states. This restricted state list is updated every Friday.

If we are able to maintain or return quickly to low positivity, we will revisit these requirements. For now, please test on schedule and follow all the protocols. These protocols have kept us in a good position all year, and allow us to act quickly to control the virus’s spread on campus.

Vaccination
We are continuing to support vaccination of faculty and staff (including student workers) on campus who are currently eligible under the state’s phased vaccination plan. As soon as the governor opens phase two (general population), we look forward to extending vaccination opportunities to our students.

Guidance for Vaccinated Individuals
At this time, being fully vaccinated does not exempt you from required testing, mask wearing, or social distancing while on campus. We are closely monitoring the situation and will revise these protocols as soon as it is deemed safe enough to do so.

However, vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine following an exposure or travel unless they have been exposed to someone known or suspected to be positive for a COVID-19 variant. This information regarding variant exposure may come via DU contact tracers or via Denver’s contact tracers. To be eligible for quarantine exemptions, your vaccine record must be uploaded in your myhealth.du.edu record, and two weeks must have passed since your final vaccination.

As always, please send your questions, suggestions and concerns to COVIDcoordinator@du.edu.

We look forward to welcoming you back, to the coming warmer weather, and to more opportunities to be together on campus. Thank you for all you do to make our campus a thriving community.

Sincerely,

Sarah Watamura
COVID-19 Coordinator