Dear Coral Gables and Marine Campus Community (non-UHealth/Miller School),
Following last week’s successful and on-time start to the spring semester, and with COVID-19 cases beginning to decline across South Florida, we are writing to share important updates and helpful reminders about health and wellness protocols as we plan for the return to in-person classes next week.
Students and employees on the Medical Campus should continue to follow guidance from UHealth and the Miller School of Medicine.
In-person instruction: Courses on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses will resume in-person instruction as planned on Monday, Jan. 31. This includes both undergraduate and graduate courses. Masks are mandatory in classrooms, and to ensure that masks are worn consistently and appropriately, food and drinks are prohibited from being consumed in academic spaces (e.g., classrooms, studios, laboratories, and library spaces).
Dining: On-campus dining locations, including dining halls and retail dining locations, will be available in a take-out format for the remainder of this week, and will resume regular dining operations on Monday, Jan. 31.
Masking: Masks are mandatory in all indoor public and common spaces and are strongly encouraged outdoors in group settings. Single-layer cloth masks are not considered protective against the omicron variant; surgical masks or multi-layered, tightly woven cloth masks must be used. Masks should fit snugly, cover the nose and mouth, and preferably have an adjustable wire nose bridge. Surgical masks are available at various on-campus locations.
Vaccination: All students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, against COVID-19. All faculty, staff, and postdoctoral associates are required to be vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, subject to the exemptions outlined in Florida law. Additional information regarding vaccination, how to provide proof of vaccination, and testing requirements for individuals who are not fully vaccinated can be found at coronavirus.miami.edu/covid-19-vaccine.
Vaccination clinic: The University is partnering with Walgreens to provide a convenient, on-campus COVID-19 vaccination clinic for University of Miami students. The clinic, located at Student Health Service at the Lennar Foundation Medical Center, will be available on Thursdays through the middle of February. Students can schedule an appointment by visiting wagsoutreach.com/ss/STU959210.
Arrival testing: Resident students who have not yet checked into their on-campus housing assignment—regardless of vaccination status or previous COVID-19 diagnosis—must complete a negative PCR or antigen test no more than 72 hours before their initial arrival to campus. Students must provide proof of the negative test result using the form at umiamicx.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e9zHCWkBBY0Obhs.
In addition, all resident students, regardless of vaccination status or previous COVID-19 diagnosis, will be required to test again immediately upon check-in to their on-campus housing location. Testing will take place at the Pavia Garage UScreen location. Resident students should self-isolate until the result of their on-campus PCR test has been returned. Additional details can be found at coronavirus.miami.edu/testing.
Ongoing testing: Any student who is not vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, or has not provided proof of vaccination and booster is required to take a COVID-19 test twice per week. Students will receive email or text message alerts to schedule their on-campus testing appointments. Employees with an approved vaccine exemption must continue to test once per week. Testing site locations and hours of operation are available at coronavirus.miami.edu/testing.
COVID hotline: Students, faculty, or staff who experience symptoms consistent with, or test positive for, COVID-19 should continue to call the University’s designated COVID-19 hotline at 305-243-ONE-U.
Isolation and quarantine: We have updated our quarantine and isolation protocols to match CDC guidelines, available at www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html. As a reminder, quarantine when you might have been exposed to the virus and may or may not have been infected; isolate when you are sick or when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don’t have symptoms.
To best manage the University’s finite isolation and quarantine spaces and other resources, we have revised the conditions under which a resident student may be required to isolate off campus. Please review the revised protocols shared in a Jan. 19 message to resident students, available at messages.miami.edu/messages/2022/01/01-19-22-revised-quarantine.html.
Events: Approved in-person events are allowed to resume on Jan. 31; however, event organizers are encouraged to consider virtual offerings when practical. All in-person academic and administrative events must follow the existing guidelines, available at coronavirus.miami.edu/additional-resources/meeting-and-event-guidance. Student events will continue to follow guidelines established by Student Affairs. Varsity athletic events will continue as scheduled, subject to guidelines issued by the ACC and NCAA.
We look forward to an engaging and enriching spring semester. Our thanks to every member of our University community for your partnership, your adaptability, and your consistent care for the well-being of fellow ’Canes. |
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