Dear Members of the Campus Community,

It has been so uplifting to walk across our beautiful campus this week and engage in conversation with students, faculty and staff as we transition back to in-person classes and activities. It is good to see all of you!

I am grateful for the many ways in which we have worked together to meet the challenges imposed by the pandemic for nearly two years now. I commend each and every one of you for your diligence in observing vaccination, masking, testing, social distancing and other protocols that are so essential to protecting our community. Combined with other mitigation strategies, such as enhanced air circulation and filtration in our campus buildings, we are well prepared to navigate our way through what we hope are the final stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today’s Friday Update addresses the most frequently asked questions that have crossed my desk this week. As always, if you have additional questions, please visit pugetsound.edu/coronavirus; submit a question to pugetsound.edu/askus (and remember to leave your email address if you want a direct response); or for health-related issues, reach out directly to Counseling, Health and Wellness Services (CHWS) for guidance.

Mask Up! 
The safety of our community depends on individual as well as collective action. With the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it is highly recommended that all members of the campus community wear a KN95, N95 or three-ply surgical/medical grade mask on campus. Those who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear a KN95 or N95 mask.

  • Students, please remember how important it is to remain masked not only in the classroom but in all social settings, especially when gathering together over the weekend—even if you are in small groups or well-ventilated areas.
  • Note that students who test positive and are released from isolation after testing negative on the sixth day are required to wear a KN95 or N95 mask at all times in the presence of others through day 10.
  • Students released from isolation on day six who have roommates will be provided with alternate accommodations through day 10 so that they can remove their masks when sleeping.
  • Masks with instructions for use are available from Facilities Services by calling 253.879.3713, and can be picked up Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. A more limited supply of masks also is available in Security Services and in the Dean of Students office.

Testing
Our robust testing program requires PCR tests before returning to campus, upon returning to campus, and once a week until further notice. We were able to identify a number of cases that prevented individuals from returning to campus immediately following the winter break, and identified additional cases during the first week of the semester. That is what our testing program was designed to do.

  • Please note that labs across the country are processing high volumes of tests; it may take longer than usual for test results (both positive and negative) to be returned.
  • All campus members should participate in asymptomatic pooled saliva PCR testing available in Wheelock Student Center, Rm. 208, by 3 p.m. on Thursday of each week. Those who have had COVID-19 in the last 90 days should not participate in asymptomatic surveillance testing.
  • The campus community will be notified when we reach a point when changes to our weekly surveillance testing program can be made.

Cases on Campus
Our COVID-19 dashboard was designed based on the transmissibility and severity of previous strains of COVID-19.

  • Many factors are considered in reaching decisions about next steps at every stage of the pandemic. The decision to resume in-person learning and activities was made with thoughtful counsel from our colleagues in CHWS; the COVID-19 Management Group; the Emergency Policy Council; and guidance from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and other health authorities.
  • Even though we are in a period defined as “high transmission,” we are well within our ability to support individuals who must be in quarantine or isolation for a period of time, and to remain operational with our strong mitigation protocols in place.
  • The shortened isolation period for those who contract COVID-19 (five days with a negative test on day six, or 10 days without a negative test) reduces the burden on those who must miss classes or work for a period of time.
  • Case counts are updated on the COVID-19 dashboard every Monday.

Vaccination Status
Puget Sound meets the requirements for being considered a “fully vaccinated campus” and requires that all vaccinated individuals obtain a booster shot as soon as they are eligible to receive one.

  • You are not considered fully vaccinated on the Puget Sound campus until you obtain a booster shot.
  • Our high vaccination rates help protect all members of the campus community. Note that Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are reported to prevent or reduce the symptoms of infections and are 90% effective against hospitalization according to the CDC.

Contact Tracing
If you are informed that you have COVID-19, you will be asked by CHWS to identify and contact those with whom you have been in close contact. Close contact is defined by the CDC as being less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period.

If You Must Miss Class
Students: Please contact your faculty for instructions and support.

If You Must Miss Work
Staff and student staff: You need to contact your department head or supervisor. Student staff have been contacted by Career and Employment Services with additional information about how to account for absences, make up work, and receive payment in a timely way.

Supporting Mental and Emotional Well-being
Self-care is important at all times, but especially during periods of stress and uncertainty. Please avail yourselves of the following opportunities:

  • Therapy Assisted Online (TAO). This online resource for students, faculty, and staff provides workshops addressing anxiety, depression, and relationship issues as well as a Mindfulness Library with meditations, breathing exercises, and other stress reduction strategies. You can locate TAO at the bottom of the CHWS main page.
  • Wellness Benefits. See the Human Resources Wellness Benefits page, which includes information about the Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff members.
  • Taking Time. A time for reflection with Chaplain Dave Wright ’96 on the first Tuesday of every month, 12:30–1 p.m., in the Murray Boardroom outer lobby.

Thank you all again for your good efforts, resilience, and commitment to doing your part as we adapt to the ever-changing pandemic and look to the future.

Sincerely,

Isiaah
Isiaah Crawford, Ph.D. | President