March 14, 2022

Preparing for spring break (Message to UW students)

This message was sent to students across the University of Washington.

Dear UW Students,

As COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to decline in our region, the surge of the Omicron variant that dominated the first several weeks of the year has clearly passed. However, as you prepare to take a well-deserved break before spring quarter begins, I would like to remind you that COVID-19 is still present in all regions of the country and you should continue to take measures to help prevent transmission when you travel, gather or go home for the break.

By continuing to take steps that protect each other’s health while away on spring break, we can help keep each other healthy and reduce the potential for surges in cases when we return for spring quarter.

If you still haven’t received your COVID-19 booster, please go get a booster and ensure you are up to date on your vaccines. This is the most important measure to help prevent serious illness from COVID-19.

If you are traveling, please follow current CDC COVID-19 travel guidance and take steps to protect yourself and others. Consider continuing to wear a high-quality mask in crowded indoor spaces, wash your hands regularly and watch your distance in crowded places. And activate WA Notify on your mobile device so you can be notified of any exposure to COVID-19.

Returning from spring break

• If you are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19, stay home (do not go to class or work), get tested immediately, and follow the University’s COVID-19 public health requirements and guidance.
• Get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours before or upon returning to the University.
  • If you’re enrolled in Husky Coronavirus Testing, a voluntary research study, your daily check-in will ask about travel outside of Washington.
  • You can also order free at-home tests to be delivered to you.
• If you test positive or are exposed, follow the University’s COVID-19 public health requirements and guidance.
  • If you are boosted or up to date with your COVID vaccine, follow CDC guidelines for self-quarantine and testing.
• For questions, contact the EH&S COVID-19 Response and Prevention Team at covidehc@uw.edu.

As we come to the homestretch of the academic year, let’s keep working to protect each other by staying vigilant to the continued presence of COVID-19.

Also, it’s strongly recommended that you wear a face mask for the first two weeks after the start of spring quarter. Let’s also remember that every member of our campus community has their own personal reasons for continuing to wear a mask (or not). Please continue to extend grace and compassion to everybody as we all adjust while continuing to monitor the public health situation in our region and at the University.

Best wishes on your finals and for a safe and enjoyable spring break.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey S. Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair, University Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD)
Medical Director, Environmental Health & Safety Department
Professor, School of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases