Submissions from 2024
Coronavirus Update Spring 2024, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We are looking forward to welcoming our students back for the spring semester. As we prepare for a rewarding and fun few months, we want to remind you of our COVID protocols.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), levels of the virus are currently higher than they have been since the first Omicron wave. That said, severe outcomes are lower than in previous winters.
Submissions from 2023
Coronavirus Update—What to Do If You Feel Sick 9-21-23, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As we head into cold and flu season and as COVID cases continue to rise both on campus and around the country, we want to remind you that COVID is currently considered an endemic—like the flu—rather than the pandemic we experienced three years ago.
Coronavirus Update 9-7-23, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Many of you are already aware that a new strain has caused an uptick in COVID cases across the nation. In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, we want to remind you please not to go to class or work if you are feeling sick.
Submissions from 2022
Coronavirus Update—Tests Available and Other Reminders 9/16, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to remind everyone that the University has home tests and masks available to anyone who needs them.
Coronavirus Update—Report Positive Test Results, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to remind everyone that you need to self-report if you test positive for COVID-19.
Monkeypox Guidelines 8-18-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to share some information with you regarding the monkeypox virus and the process should there be cases on campus. As always, we will be following CDC guidelines and the advice of state and local health officials.
Coronavirus Update 8-4-2022, The Coronavirus Planning Team
With most students coming to campus in just a few weeks, we want to fill you in on our COVID protocols as we start the year.
Coronavirus Update 5-11-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
With the end of the semester, we have shut down the COVID dashboard. We will evaluate the need for it in the future based on the status of the virus.
Coronavirus Update 4-28-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
With the semester coming to a close, there are a few things we wanted to share with you about testing. This week will be the last week of mandatory testing.
Coronavirus Update 4-5-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Based on current numbers and trends and in accordance with CDC guidance, we will recommend vaccination, but not require it, for the fall. Vaccination has been one component of our strategy, along with testing, tracing, isolation, quarantine, masking, hygiene and social distancing. We will continue to follow the way the virus evolves and listen to the advice of state and local health officials, and we will let you know over the summer as decisions are made on our testing, isolation and other strategies for the fall.
Coronavirus Update 3-23-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
There will be a booster clinic on campus this coming Saturday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Edgerton Center atrium. The clinic will be open to SHU community members and their family and friends.
Coronavirus Update 3-10-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As you know, the deadline for employees to receive a booster shot was March 1, and the deadline for students is March 15. Anyone who has received an exemption or has not complied with the booster deadline will need to be tested weekly throughout the remainder of the semester. We also recommend that those who have not been vaccinated and/or received a booster wear a mask indoors.
Coronavirus Update 3-3-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We have scheduled a booster clinic on campus on Saturday.
We want to remind you to make sure you have picked up your at-home COVID test before you leave for break. Please take the test the morning that you first plan to return to campus.
Coronavirus Update 2-24-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Given the low numbers of positive cases on campus and the trends at other campuses and in towns and cities in the area, we are modifying our indoor mask mandate, effective March 1.
Coronavirus Update 2-10-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
The Connecticut Governor’s state-wide mask mandate for K-12 schools is set to expire at the end of this month, leaving the decision up to local communities. Because the CDC still lists Fairfield County as a high-transmission area and, on the advice of state and local health officials, Sacred Heart will continue to require indoor masking for the time being.
Coronavirus Update 2-3-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
There will be two booster clinics on campus this weekend that will be open to students, faculty and staff and their family members.
Coronavirus Update 1-27-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Today’s dashboard shows 57 positive cases. We are lifting the additional restrictions that we announced at the beginning of the semester. To help with the severe shortage of blood on-campus blood drives are planned.
Coronavirus Update 1-21-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Students who are unvaccinated and those who have been randomly selected will need to register for testing next week.
Coronavirus Update 1-20-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
There has been some confusion about the process if you test positive through a test not administered by the University. The graphic below explains the process.
We have partnered with our public health program to facilitate COVID-related communications.
Sacred Heart University is becoming a JED Campus.
Coronavirus Update 1-13-2022, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As you know, we have been extremely successful keeping the community safe and the number of COVID cases low. This has been a result of vaccinations, testing and your diligence with masking and other safety protocols. Because the omicron variant is so highly transmissible, it presents some different challenges than we have previously faced, but nothing that we can’t handle.
Coronavirus Update 1-6-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Updated CDC Guidelines for Quarantining and Isolating
The CDC recently updated its guidelines for quarantining and isolating. We delayed implementing the new guidelines, because we expected the CDC to release more specific guidance for institutions of higher education. After consulting with state and local health officials, we have decided to move forward with the new guidelines. When the CDC does release guidelines for higher education, we will review them and may update our protocols accordingly. We are sharing some highlights of the new guidelines below, but the guidance is constantly changing, and you can find the most up-to-the-minute decisions on the CDC website.
Coronavirus Update 1-4-22, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We are continuing to review new guidance from the CDC and the transmission of omicron in the state and in the University community. We will have more information for you later this week.
Submissions from 2021
Coronavirus Update 12-30-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
What to Do If You Test Positive During Break -- Masking -- Social Distancing -- Stay Home if You Feel Sick -- Testing for Employees -- Booster Clinics -- Study and Travel Abroad.
Coronavirus Update 12-21-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As we prepare for what appears to be a challenging January, we want to remind you of the need to receive a booster shot before your return to campus after the Christmas break if you are eligible or no later than March 1.
Coronavirus Update 12-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to thank you all again for your commitment to the Pioneer Promise this semester. That commitment on the part of the entire community helped us keep the number of positive cases very low and avoid the kind of big spikes that some of our neighboring colleges and universities experienced.
Links to Weekend Booster Clinics (12/11 and 12/12), The Coronavirus Planning Team
These clinics will be expanded to 200 slots. The link will stop working when the clinic is full.
Coronavirus Update 12-2-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
By now, we are sure you have heard about the omicron variant of the coronavirus. It originated in South Africa or Europe, and the first U.S. case has been identified in California.
Coronavirus Update 11-16-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to take a moment to thank you and congratulate you for the attention you have paid to the Pioneer Promise this semester. As a result, our COVID numbers have been low (as of today we have one active case in our community) and we have been able to gather and hold many events that we missed out on last year.
Coronavirus Update 11-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Pre-holiday Testing: We are offering the opportunity to be tested for those who want to ensure they are negative before traveling home.
Coronavirus Update 10-27-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
There is new guidance from the CDC regarding the time frame in which vaccinated people should be tested if they were a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
Coronavirus Update 10-21-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We hope you are as excited about Family Weekend as we are. The forecast is calling for crisp fall weather that will be perfect for the activities planned. We are pleased to tell you that we will be relaxing our rule about family members in the residence halls for Family Weekend.
Coronavirus Update 10-13-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to share that—in conjunction with Hartford HealthCare—we will be offering a clinic for Pfizer booster shots for those who received the Pfizer vaccine.
Coronavirus Update 10-7-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As of today, we continue to have low COVID numbers (three cases currently) in the SHU community. This is encouraging.
Coronavirus Update 9-23-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As of today, we have 22 COVID cases in the SHU community. This is great news, and we have YOU to thank—in particular, our students. We want to thank you for all you have done to keep yourselves and others safe.
Coronavirus Update 9-16-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We had all hoped that the vaccine would allow us to return to pre-pandemic days but, unfortunately, the rise of the highly transmissible delta variant has meant that we need to be patient a little longer. That said, and despite the need for indoor masking, life on campus is much different than it was a year ago.
Coronavirus Update 9-9-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Beginning this week, we have reinstituted a version of our COVID dashboard. Today’s dashboard shows 50 active cases in the SHU community. This is concerning as we don’t want to have to impose further restrictions, and we certainly don’t want to revert to remote learning.
Coronavirus Update 9-2-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We continue to have students, faculty and staff express concerns about members of the community who are either not wearing their masks indoors or are wearing them incorrectly. The graphic below illustrates the correct and incorrect ways to wear a mask.
Coronavirus Update 8-31-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Wear a Mask Indoors! As you know, we are requiring that everyone wear a mask when indoors, except in their dorm rooms with only roommates present or alone in offices for faculty and staff. Unfortunately, we have observed a significant number of students who are not adhering to this mandate. To be compliant, you need to be wearing a mask that completely covers your nose and mouth.
Coronavirus Update 8-27-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We want to say welcome to the Class of 2025 who have been moving in yesterday and today. We just have a few quick reminders for you as we get ready for the start of the fall semester.
Coronavirus Update 8-24-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Today we want to focus on the procedures and protocols you follow if you have COVID symptoms or if you test positive for COVID. The CampusClear app can also help you with this, so please make sure that you are checking in with the app each morning before you head outside.
Coronavirus Update 8-20-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Thanks to all of you who joined our town hall meeting for students and parents last night. We hope your questions were answered. Because of the impending storm (see below), we have moved the faculty and staff town hall to Tuesday at 3:30.
Coronavirus Update 8-17-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We are looking forward to meeting with you in the coming days to answer your questions about protocols for fall.
Coronavirus Update 8-13-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We continue to prepare for your arrival with great excitement for the year ahead. Today is the deadline for uploading proof of your first vaccine (or single vaccine if you received Johnson & Johnson) or your request for a medical or religious exemption.
Coronavirus Update 8-10-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
We are sharing this year’s version of the Pioneer Promise. While it remains a commitment to one another to follow protocols that will keep the community safe, it has been adapted to reflect fewer restrictions and procedures as we move toward more normalcy on campus. Just like last year, students, faculty and staff will be asked to sign the Pioneer Promise before the semester begins.
Coronavirus Update 8-6-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
As you know, the rise of the delta variant has put a little bit of a damper on things by necessitating, for now, that everyone wears masks indoors whether vaccinated or not. We know you are disappointed—we all are. But it is a small price to pay for the health and safety of our community. Here are some things we know about COVID-19 and the delta variant.
*CORRECTION* Coronavirus Update 8-6-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
CORRECTION: The following statement from this morning’s coronavirus message was incorrect. Upperclassmen will move in on Sunday, August 29, not August 28. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Coronavirus Update 7-30-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
Message Highlights
- Students, faculty and staff will need to have at least one dose of the vaccine before coming back to campus. Students must upload their proof of vaccination (even if it is only a first dose) to their SPA health portal.
- Everyone needs to have their second injection by September 15 and will need to upload the information by that date.
- Students may apply for a religious or medical exemption.
- Unvaccinated students with an approved exemption will need to provide a negative PCR test taken within five days prior to their arrival on campus.
- As part of our attempt to get back to our normal routines as much as possible, we will not be offering SHU-Flex in the fall.
- We are watching the new CDC guidelines and working with experts and officials at the state and local levels—masking and other protocols are subject to change as the situation warrants.
UPDATE Coronavirus Update 7-30-21, The Coronavirus Planning Team
It has just been announced that the CDC is including Fairfield County as an area with substantial COVID-19 community transmission. Consequently, as of now we will be putting an indoor masking requirement in place until further notice.
Coronavirus Update for July 23, 2021, The Coronavirus Planning Team
One thing we have learned during this 18-month battle with COVID-19 is that things are constantly changing and, if we want to stay safe, we need to keep up with the latest news. We are aware of the recent rise in COVID Delta variant cases around the country, and in the state, as well as the number of our athletic and clinical partners who are now requiring the vaccine. As a result, and in consultation with state and local health officials, we have made the decision to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all students, faculty and staff who plan to be on campus in the fall.
Coronavirus Update 7/9/21: Please Update Your Vaccination Information, The Coronavirus Planning Team
The University’s senior leaders and the coronavirus planning team are in the process of determining policies for the fall semester that will be based on how many in our community have been vaccinated.
