February 1 Weekly CIRT Campus Update

CIRT Update

Published February 1, 2021

Dear students, staff and faculty:

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

Campus Status

The campus is currently operating in BLUE mode. For information on mode-dependent operations, please visit https://www.smith.edu/covid19/operating-modes.

Over the past seven days, there have been three positive cases of COVID-19 reported through the on-campus campus screening program. For more data on the screening program, please visit https://www.smith.edu/covid19/health-safety/coronavirus-screening.

Important Updates

  • Massachusetts has announced that people age 75 and over (Phase 2, Step 1) are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on or after February 1, 2021. We strongly urge all members of our community to get the vaccine as soon as you are eligible to do so. Although vaccine supplies and appointments appear to be limited across the state, those eligible can check the Massachusetts vaccine website, review the vaccination locations on the map and check if there are available appointments at each location. There does not appear to be one single registration link; rather you need to periodically check each location for new appointment openings. You will need to present the attestation form at your appointment. In addition, some health care providers are sending vaccine information to their patients via email. Please watch for those opportunities as well. Please note that Smith College is not administering or scheduling any vaccines on behalf of its students or employees at this time.
  • The vaccination status of an employee or student does not change any of the rules or protocols in place for them under the college’s Culture of Care plan.
  • For the spring 2021 semester, field trips that require participants to travel by vehicle are strictly prohibited.
  • Lanyards will be distributed to all students and employees participating in the COVID-19 screening program. These lanyards must be worn at all times when on campus and cannot be shared under any circumstance. Lanyards will be distributed to students upon arrival and to employees beginning February 7, 2021.
  • For the spring semester, the college’s inclement weather plan has been updated as follows:
  • Classes will take place as regularly scheduled during inclement weather periods unless otherwise adjusted by the course instructor and communicated to all enrolled students.
  • Only essential personnel are asked to report to campus when on-campus operations are adjusted due to inclement weather. Employees who normally report to work on-campus should work their regularly scheduled hours if they are able to work remotely. Employees who work on-campus and are not able to complete their work remotely and are not classified as essential should record a snow day on their time sheet.
  • Employees working remotely due to COVID-19 pandemic operations will work their regular schedule when on-campus operations are adjusted due to inclement weather.
  • Employees who have questions regarding expectations during closings should check with their supervisors ahead of time.
  • During periods of inclement weather, the COVID-19 screening center will be closed. Testing program participants will receive an email detailing how to reschedule a missed test and extended hours in the days following the closure.
  • Students needing medical care from the Schacht Center for Health & Wellness may call the after-hours nurse available at 413-585-1260 or counselor available at 413-585-2840.
  • For information about delayed openings, early closings, cancellation of classes, curtailed operations at Smith or weather emergency information, call the Smith Information Line at 413-585-INFO (4636). The Info Line and Priority News emails are the college’s official weather source. An updated announcement of storm delays or closings will be available beginning approximately at 6:00 a.m. or as soon as possible on the affected workday. If possible, an announcement will also be posted on the Smith website and sent to all students and employees via email. Only delay and closing decisions will be communicated. The absence of communication is an indication that normal operations will occur on that day.

Please send any questions to covid19info@smith.edu.

COVID-19 Incident Response Team (CIRT)
covid19info@smith.edu



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