HRS Winter Information and Reminders
As we reach the conclusion of a successful fall semester, we want to wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season and sincerely thank you for working together with us and your colleagues to help keep our campus safe. We’d also like to share some tips, guidelines and reminders with you before winter break.
Testing During the Winter
The University continues to offer a limited COVID testing schedule during the holiday season (12/20/21 – 1/1/22) for those on campus. Testing – and continuing to be vigilant in following all the safety measures outlined below – will be critical to keep on-campus COVID rates as low as possible. So please help us …
Make testing plans for your return – If you are away from campus, please plan to test the first week you return, regardless of your normal testing schedule. After that, please resume regular testing – weekly for unvaccinated and monthly (by last name) for healthy, fully vaccinated individuals. Find the testing schedules and locations here.
Booster Shots
We also continue to highly recommend individuals who are fully vaccinated and meet the criteria to get their booster shots. Per CDC guidelines, you are eligible if you received a second dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or other two-dose approved vaccine at least six months ago or one dose of J&J or other single dose vaccine at least two months ago. You can get your booster at Stony Brook’s R&D Park. This site is open Monday-Saturday, 8:00 am-6:30 pm; Sunday, 8 am-12 noon. Appointments are not required for this location, but if you wish to make an appointment at this or any other State-run COVID vaccine site, visit am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov.
Please also help keep yourself, your family and all of us protected from influenza by getting a flu shot through your local health provider or retail pharmacy.
Remember to Mask Up
Please continue to adhere to our masking protocols as they are in place for everyone’s safety. Specifically, all faculty, staff, students and visitors, regardless of their vaccination status, must wear face coverings (which cover your mouth and nose) while inside University and Hospital buildings. This includes classrooms, hallways, libraries and other common spaces, as well as SBU buses and shuttles. Remember, if a co-worker comes into your personal office space, you are also required to put on a mask. Masks are not required outdoors, but you may want to consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings.
CampusClear
If you are concerned about possible COVID symptoms, CampusClear is a quick way to check your symptoms and receive guidance on next steps. The Testing and Screening webpage of the Stronger Together site tells you more, including how to register (all at the bottom of the page).
If You Plan to Travel …
Guidelines, particularly for international travel, are subject to change. To see the latest requirements on international travel, visit the CDC website. Find country-specific COVID-19 travel information here. Keep in mind, too, that wearing a mask over your nose and mouth is required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within or outside of the United States and while indoors at US transportation hubs such as airports and stations. And, as outlined above, it is also required indoors in all University facilities.
General Safety Tips
● Consider the community levels of COVID in your location to assess your risk of infection. You can find this information on your community’s Health Department website.
● Watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have COVID symptoms, get tested and stay home and away from others. If your test is positive or you have been exposed to COVID, call the Health Information Line (HIL) at (631) 632-5000. (If you test at a campus site, you will be notified of a positive test result.)
● Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers/cleaners are also effective.
● Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; germs are spread this way.
Safe, happy holidays everyone!
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