December 13 Weekly CIRT Campus Update

Dear students, staff and faculty:

Below, please find important campus, regional and national updates from the COVID-19 Incident Response Team (CIRT).

Campus Status

Over the past seven days, there have been six positive cases of COVID-19 reported through the on-campus campus screening program.

We continue to contact trace all positive cases in consultation with the Northampton Health Department. For more data on the screening program, please visit Coronavirus Screening.

Minimizing Community Health Risk

Given the highly concerning increase in COVID-19 cases within the region, CIRT is strongly urging that students and employees exercise common sense when organizing or participating in gatherings (including meetings, events or holiday parties). Please reduce density where possible, and ensure masks are worn at all times in line with current policy. At events where eating and drinking is taking place, please remember to wear masks when not eating or drinking.

Test Exemption for Employees over Break

Employee requests for testing exemption due to time away from work—including holiday vacations—should go to testingcompliance@smith.edu. Please note that you do not need an exemption from testing on the week that the college is closed for winter recess.

Update: January Return-to-Campus Process and Interterm

Students will be expected to register their arrival date when they return to campus from winter break. All students should plan to arrive on campus and proceed to the Campus Center for testing during the first available testing hours following their registered arrival. As a reminder, students must test twice weekly following their arrival and will need to have a negative test result within the week prior to their first class attendance (whether for J-term or spring).

All students should plan to be on campus by January 22 at 9 p.m. in order to receive a Smith College negative PCR test prior to the start of classes on January 24, 2022. Directions for testing regarding January 3 classes will be communicated directly with enrolled students. Students who have already planned their transportation but whose arrival will not allow for receipt of PCR test results prior to class attendance will receive directions for receiving a PCR and rapid test prior to class attendance. Detailed directions for arrival will be sent to students this week.

COVID-19 Incident Response Team (CIRT)

covid19info@smith.edu

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