Responding to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The below information is current as of December 31, 2021, at 8 p.m. and subject to change.

What if I tested positive for COVID-19 over the break?  When can I get the booster?
Community members who tested positive over the break, or are still in their 90 day period following a positive test, should consult their primary care physician.  Generally, individuals who test positive are recommended to receive their booster shot following their ten-day isolation period.

What if I tested positive over the break?  What is my onboarding procedure?
Community members who tested positive over the break, or are still in their 90 day period following a positive test, do not have to test or quarantine unless they have symptoms.  If you have symptoms, then please stay home.  Students in this situation can move in on Sunday, January 9.

What if I had a reaction to a previous COVID-19 dose, and my doctor advised against getting the booster?
You may apply for a medical exemption and provide a medical provider note advising you against getting the booster.  The exemption form can be found in the Medicat portal.

What if I cannot get the booster by my move-in day on January 7?
Students have until February 1, 2022, to be in compliance with the University booster requirement.  Students can also go to several surrounding pharmacies in Worcester and use the University uber reduced-fee service for transportation.

If I am unvaccinated and have a medical or religious exemption, do I have to get the booster?
No.

If I am unvaccinated and have a medical or religious exemption, do I need to test and quarantine upon my return?  What are the spring health protocols for those with exemptions?
Yes, you must test and quarantine upon arrival.  Your spring protocols remain the same as the fall – you must test 3 times per week and wear a mask indoors and outdoors.

What are the quarantine procedures if I am exposed to COVID 19?
If you are boosted or are within your six months of your vaccine dose (2 months for Johnson & Johnson), then you do not need to quarantine if exposed.  You must wear a mask inside and outside for five days and test on day five after the exposure.

If you are not boosted or within your six months of your vaccine second dose (2 months of Johnson & Johnson), then you will need to quarantine for five days, test on day five and quarantine, and wear a mask inside and outside for an additional five days.

What if I cannot find a home test or schedule a PCR test before my return?
For local students, the University will open the Testing Center on Wednesday, January 5, and Thursday, January 6, from 8:45 am until 4 p.m. for students to obtain a pre-arrival test (the residence halls will not be open until Friday, January 7).
Students unable to visit campus will be tested upon their return and quarantine until they receive a negative result.

Do we have to wear masks when we are back on campus?
Yes, vaccinated, boosted, and unvaccinated must wear masks indoors, including common areas in the residence halls, in compliance with the city of Worcester mask mandate.  Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks outdoors as well.  In addition, the CDC recommends individuals upgrade their masks to a KN-95 or N-95.

When will the dining hall open?
Taylor Dining Hall will open on Friday, January 7, for dinner from 5 p.m. to  7:30 p.m. when the Spring Meal Plan begins for grab-and-go options. 

Saturday, January 8. 
Open for brunch 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. 
Students are to swipe for a meal.  Grab and go. 

Open for dinner from 5 pm until 7:30 pm.  Students are to swipe for a meal.  Grab-and-go.

Sunday, January 9

• Open for brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students are to swipe for meals.  Grab-and-go.
• Open for dinner from 5 to 7:30 p.m.  Students are to swipe for a meal.  Open dining room for seating if test results are back if not, grab-and-go.
• Open for late-night, 8:30 to 10 p.m.  Students to swipe for late night.  Open dining room for seating if test results are back if not, grab-and-go.

When does Charlie's open?
Charlie's will open on Saturday, January 9, with operating hours of 4 p.m. to 12 a.m

When does the Hagan Coffee Shop open?
The Coffee Shop will open on Monday, January 10, at 7:30 a.m.

The original strain of the virus that started the pandemic has mutated many times. Some of the mutations result in variants that are not as infectious or do not spread as easily and never become a concern. The Delta variant, which spreads more easily and causes more severe illness, became the dominant strain by September of 2021. A few months ago, a new Omicron variant started to spread rapidly. It has been found to spread 4-5 times as fast as the Delta virus. Because it spreads so easily, it has already crowded out the Delta virus and become the most common cause of COVID-19 infections. The number of cases double every 2-3 days. As of 12/31/2021 the COVID test positivity rate in Massachusetts was up to over 16 per 100 people tested and rising rapidly.  

What do we know about the Omicron variant? 

Anyone that is infected with the Omicron variant can spread it even if they have been vaccinated and even if they do not have symptoms. We know that the original two-dose vaccination does not protect us well from infection with the Omicron variant. (Because it is so new and became prevalent in Israel and the UK earlier than in the US, much of our information on Omicron has been from those countries) 

Fortunately, the evidence so far indicates this variant causes less severe illness than the Delta virus and results in much lower hospitalization rate.

If Omicron causes less severe illness in general, and younger people are less likely to get seriously ill, why are we so worried about it.  

It is true that most young people that contract Omicron will either have no symptoms or mild relatively short-lived illness. However, the spread of the infection is of concern for several reasons: 

1. A small but significant number of young people with mild illness from COVID-19 will develop symptoms that last for months. These so-called “long haulers” can recover from the original infection but have persistent fatigue, dizziness, decreased ability to remember new material or concentrate among other complaints. 
2. Our Assumption community includes faculty and staff that are older and at higher risk for more severe illness or hospitalization. 
3. We are member of a larger community and do not want to spread the virus to members of our families, friends, or neighbors 
4. A large outbreak on campus might result in returning to remote learning and jeopardize campus social, club, and sport activities.

Antibodies from the initial two-dose vaccination decline over time and are significantly reduced six months post-vaccination. Getting a booster vaccination has been shown to raise our antibody level against COVID-19 25-fold. This results in much better protection against getting severe cases of the Omicron virus and likely offers protection against other strains that may develop in the future.  

If I have already had COVID do I still need a booster and if so, how soon do I have to wait to get it? 

Unless just you contracted the virus within the last few weeks, you probably had the alpha or more likely the delta variant. Unfortunately, this has not proven to give you much protection to the new Omicron variant.

You can receive the booster as soon as you have recovered from your initial infection. Only patients that received the monoclonal antibodies for prior infection need to wait 90 days before receiving a booster. 

Why do we still have to employ all the mitigation measures when most of the campus has been vaccinated and many boosted? 

A large majority of the campus members have been vaccinated. Many have also been boosted. The vaccinations are helpful. After receiving all three doses of the vaccine there is a significant reduction in the risk of contracting the Omicron variant. Overall efficacy is about 70%, not 100%. We need continued mitigation measures to help decrease the spread as much as possible. We continue to follow the guidance for institutions of higher learning as outlined by the CDC.

Finally, the risk of myocarditis is 6 times as high in those with COVID than those vaccinated.

Dear Members of the Assumption University Community,

I hope this message finds you well enjoying the Christmas break. As we all know, the pandemic continues to evolve, and as such, the health protocols necessary to prevent the spread continue to change. Assumption University continues to follow CDC and Massachusetts Department of Public Health Guidance. The below includes updated health protocols to support the health and well-being of our University and Worcester communities.

COVID-19 Booster

Before the Christmas break, the University strongly encouraged members of our community to obtain the COVID-19 booster once they are eligible. Given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and the significant decline in the public health situation in the last two weeks in Massachusetts, the University now requires all students, faculty, and staff to obtain the booster shot. (Note, individuals with an approved exemption do not need to get a booster shot.) This requirement is critical if the University can achieve its goals of sustained, in-person classes and providing students a residential experience. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has opened five vaccination sites that accept walk-ins or appointments.

If you have already obtained the booster shot, please upload documentation of such to Medicat.

We have made this decision due to the deteriorating public health situation on campus, in Worcester, and in Massachusetts. This includes:

• The Omicron variant is surging in Massachusetts, with the Commonwealth reporting a record high in positive cases; most of the new cases over the past two weeks are individuals ages 20 to 39.
• Student-athletes and staff who have already returned to campus have tested positive, with a spread among team members.
• Winter athletic games scheduled for this period have been canceled due to team members testing positive for COVID-19.
• Hospitals in Massachusetts are postponing or canceling elective medical procedures. The Worcester area hospitals are currently overcapacity.
• Massachusetts has activated the National Guard to support hospitals throughout the Commonwealth.
• Pharmacies in Massachusetts have depleted their supplies of home COVID-19 tests and cannot accommodate demand. (Note that any pre-arrival test is acceptable, including a PCR. If students cannot get a test, they will be tested on campus upon arrival but should stay home if they are experiencing even the slightest of symptoms.)
• Area colleges and universities have also announced a booster requirement.
• Some colleges and universities have already announced plans to begin the semester remotely. 

Residence halls will open as planned on January 7, 8, 9, and classes will begin on January 10, 2022. We plan to begin classes in person, however, the University is prepared to transition to temporary remote learning, if necessary, once classes begin based on the number of positive cases on campus.

DEADLINE FOR THE COVID-19 BOOSTER

Students

Students currently eligible for the booster shot must obtain such before returning to campus if they can obtain one. There are several sites throughout the country and Commonwealth offering the booster shot. (If students cannot obtain a booster shot before their return to campus, they must do so before February 1.) Students who are not yet eligible for the booster shot must obtain one within one week of their date of eligibility.

Employees

University employees currently eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot must obtain such no later than Thursday, January 6, the day before students return to campus, or by February 1 if they cannot obtain one. Employees who are not yet eligible for the booster must get the booster shot within one week of their date of eligibility.

New Isolation and Quarantine Requirements

Students and employees who test positive for COVID–19 and are asymptomatic are required to isolate for five days (students must isolate at home if they live within 200 miles of campus) and continue to wear a mask for an additional five days both inside and outside. Anyone positive with COVID-19 and symptomatic will continue to isolate for the full 10 days. Students must be cleared by Health Services to return to in-person classes.

Anyone exposed to a COVID-19 positive person who has not received the booster dose and are six months from their last Moderna or Pfizer vaccine dose (or two months from the last Johnson & Johnson dose) must quarantine for at least five days and wear a mask indoors and outdoors for an additional five days. Students who live within 200 miles of campus will quarantine at home.

Access to Remote Learning

Access to remote learning will only be offered to those in isolation or quarantine, as confirmed by University Health Services. Individuals testing positive off-campus or at home must upload a copy of their positive test result to Medicat. If necessary, the University is prepared to transition to remote learning should we experience a surge of COVID-19 on campus.  

Symptom Tracker

The University will no longer require students, faculty, and staff to complete the daily symptom tracker or display the symptom tracker at the front gate. All members of the community will be required to show and swipe their University identification to access campus. Students who test positive for COVID-19 or are in quarantine due to an exposure are asked to complete the daily monitoring questionnaire in the symptom tracker. University identification for those who test positive for COVID-19 will be deactivated.

Guest Policy

Guests may visit campus if they can demonstrate proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arrival. There is no need to preregister to visit campus. Given the rapid increase in positive cases on campus, overnight guests will not be permitted at this time. This policy will be reconsidered once the semester is underway.

Testing

All vaccinated individuals are required to be tested twice per week, and unvaccinated individuals must test three times per week. The Testing Center will schedule tests to help our community with testing compliance. We ask that members of the campus community make their appointments during their onboarding test.

Masks

Masks are still required indoors for everyone regardless of vaccination status in the city of Worcester - this includes the common areas inside residence halls and apartments. Masks are required indoors and outdoors for anyone who has an exemption to the COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC has recommended that individuals upgrade their masks to K-95 or N-95 in light of the highly transmissible nature of the Omicron variant.

We know that ringing in 2022 can be a fun and exciting time. Please consider CDC guidance as you make your holiday plans. It will be up to all of us to think about our activity over the next week to be fully in person for classes the week of January 10. 

Please know the COVID-19 booster shot requirement, along with all the health protocols, are necessary as we continue to promote the health and safety of the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and their families. We know this is a challenging time, and we appreciate everyone’s work to support the common good. 

Should you have any questions or unique circumstances, please contact Student Affairs.

In the spirit of transparency, Assumption University makes public information relative to its testing and safety protocol non-compliance data.

• Fall 2020 COVID-19 Testing Dashboard
• Fall 2020 COVID-19 Compliance Dashboard
• Spring 2021 COVID-19 Testing Dashboard
• Spring 2021 COVID-19 Compliance Dashboard
• Summer 2021 Dashboard
• Fall 2021 COVID-19 Testing Dashboard
• Fall 2021 COVID-19 Compliance Dashboard

Approved Exemptions 

Data current as of December 2021