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Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

At the start of this new semester, I want to welcome our newest community members and welcome back our returning students, faculty and staff. As coordinator of the University’s ongoing response efforts to communicable illnesses, such as COVID-19 and influenza, I want to provide some reminders that can help keep you and our community healthy.

COVID-19

Although no longer considered a public health emergency, COVID-19 continues to be present and cause varying degrees of illness. There are several ways you can protect yourself and our community from COVID-19:

• Although vaccination is no longer required for residential students, we encourage our community to consider vaccinations against common communicable illnesses, including COVID. Students, faculty and staff can search locations offering COVID vaccinations using the . COVID vaccine is available in the pharmacy at the Barnes Center. Please use the to make an appointment.
• Monitor for COVID-like symptoms. If you’re a student, contact the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000 if you’re exhibiting symptoms. Barnes Center staff will direct you on what actions to take next. Faculty and staff should contact their primary care provider.
  • To learn more about what steps to take if you test positive for COVID, please visit the .
• If you are feeling sick, consider wearing a mask to limit the spread of your symptoms. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask is welcome to do so and should be supported.
• Cover your cough and sneezes.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently, especially your residence hall rooms.

The University will also continue to:

• Provide broad access to at-home COVID test kits for residential students, faculty and staff (low-cost tests are available through ; tests will no longer be sold at the pharmacy);
  • COVID test kits now available in the vending machines have an expiration date of August 2025.
  • COVID test kits with an expiration date of February 2024 are being made available free of cost on a first-come-first-serve basis until supplies last at the information desk in the Schine Student Center and the Goldstein Student Center on South Campus.
• Conduct enhanced cleaning and ventilation of campus facilities; and
• Support students who test positive that are asked to isolate in their residence hall room or in their off-campus residence. For more information on the updated isolation protocols, please visit .

Influenza

These winter months are a peak time for influenza activity. Please keep in mind the following health practices:

• We strongly encourage our community members to get a flu shot to protect themselves and those around them during flu season.  Students can schedule a flu shot at the Barnes Center pharmacy by using the patient portal at myhealth.syr.edu.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are feeling sick, limit your contact with others as much as possible. Students should contact the Barnes Center at 315.443.8000.
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash your hands often.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid sharing cups, utensils, lip balm, etc.
• Clean and disinfect regularly touched surfaces and objects.
• If you have the flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after a fever is gone, without the need for a fever-reducing medicine.

To learn more about any of these illnesses, please visit the .

I wish you a healthy, fulfilling and enjoyable spring semester.

Sincerely,

Ramesh Raina
Professor, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences