Masks indoors

 should have posted this earlier -- masks required indoors

Masks to be required indoors effective Monday, Aug. 9

To the Campus Community,

Last night, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified Broome County as a region of substantial transmission due to an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Therefore, we are requiring that effective Monday, Aug. 9, and until further notice, all persons on campus, regardless of their vaccination status, wear a mask when indoors.

As we finalize our preparations for the start of the fall semester, we will continue to follow guidance from New York state and public health officials. Ensuring the health and safety of our campus community is our highest priority, so our plans have been developed in collaboration with faculty, staff and healthcare experts, including county and state health officials.
We have been able to keep our COVID-19 cases low, with only one positive case all summer. However, given the rising concerns about the Delta variant and to ensure we are doing everything possible to limit transmission of the coronavirus, we are requiring that effective Monday, Aug. 9, all persons on campus, regardless of their vaccination status, wear a mask when indoors. This includes classrooms, hallways, libraries, common spaces and offices, as well as buses and shuttles. Masks will not be required inside personal residence hall rooms or personal office spaces, while eating in on-campus dining areas or in non-public-facing personal workstations.

We will continue to monitor the data and revisit the mask requirement as appropriate.

The University will continue to offer in-person classes, with no plans to revert to remote learning, and will also continue to strongly encourage vaccinations for all members of the campus community. Vaccinated students should upload their proof of vaccination to the student health portal at https://binghamton.medicatconnect.com/home.aspx and vaccinated employees should provide proof of vaccination to Human Resources.

In addition, this fall, we are requiring:
• All students who live on campus and have not received a medical or religious exemption to be vaccinated.
• Off-campus students who are not vaccinated to be tested weekly in our on-campus testing center in the University Union, Room 111.
• Employees who have not provided proof of vaccination to be tested weekly in the on-campus testing center.
• Tracking of those who test positive to ensure they properly isolate from others.

Upon Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, all students will be required to be vaccinated within a certain time frame.

Remember, vaccination is the best defense we have against the spread of COVID-19. Help us all stay healthy and, if you’re not yet vaccinated, get your shot right away.

Sincerely,
Harvey Stenger
President