As students, faculty, and staff begin to return to campus, we would like to remind our campus community of the importance of following public health measures whether on or off campus to reduce the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus:
- wear an appropriate face covering that fully covers your nose and mouth – please refrain from gaiters as these can be difficult to keep in place properly and there is large variation in whether they have appropriate protective layering,
- maintain a physical distance of a minimum six feet when around others, if possible, to avoid being named as a close contact should someone be a positive case,
- use hand sanitizer before and after entering and leaving public spaces,
- minimize time spent in shared public spaces,
- limit elevator traffic to one person at a time,
- eat alone or only with members of your own household if possible,
- avoid drinking fountains,
- avoid using public restrooms, if at all possible, and
- wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
It is important that we all adhere to these precautions whether on or off campus to protect our health and have a successful spring semester.
The health of our community is the utmost importance, especially with the announcement of new variants of the virus. The CDC has not released any new guidelines regarding the variants, aside from emphasizing the critical importance of vigilance with respect to these public health protocols, especially when you are around individuals who are not members of your own household.
If you witness or experience an incident or event that raises health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, we encourage you to complete and submit the Community Agreement Reporting Form.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter and please direct questions to humanresources@ithaca.edu.