February 22, 2022
Updates to UW policies on masks at outdoor events, vaccine verification at venues (Message to the UW community)
In line with recent state and local actions, the UW is changing its policies on masks at outdoor events and vaccine verification at events and venues.
February 18, 2022
Updates on surgeries, procedures and hospital visitation (Message to UW Medicine patients)
As the numbers of COVID-19 positive inpatients in our hospitals decline, UW Medicine is cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue so we can resume normal operations. We are, however, continuing to take precautions to keep our patients, staff, and visitors as safe as possible. For this reason, when the state and King County lift masking mandates and discontinue the need to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test entering certain venues, our hospitals and clinics will continue these restrictions.
February 9, 2022
Vaccine booster requirement for UW Medicine employees except those in non-clinical roles in the School of Medicine (Message to UW Medicine personnel)
In our ongoing effort to create a safer environment for our patients, visitors, and staff, and based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UW Medicine is requiring that all employees – except for those in non-clinical roles in the School of Medicine – receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot or complete a declination process by Friday, March 4, 2022.
February 7, 2022
Accommodations and flexibility for students (Message to Seattle campus deans and chairs)
We’ve been receiving some feedback from both instructors and students that there is some confusion about the kinds of “accommodations” instructors are expected to make if a student is unable to come to a class that is being taught primarily in person. We’re writing to provide clarity on those expectations, understanding that you are already managing many of these situations on a case-by-case basis based on the needs of specific programs and courses.
January 27, 2022
Where to pick up free, high-quality masks starting Jan. 31
The University of Washington is expanding distribution of high-quality masks to the University community beginning Jan. 31. These include KN95, KF94, N95 and surgical masks, all of which have been approved by UW Environmental Health & Safety.
January 24, 2022
The UW is returning to largely in-person classes Jan. 31 (Message to students)
The improving public health situation and the resulting reduction in coronavirus-related disruptions allow us to follow through with our plans to return to largely in-person classes and learning experiences on Monday, Jan. 31. You should expect your classes to be in the original format listed in the time schedule unless your instructors inform you otherwise.
Returning to largely in-person classes and experiences Jan. 31 (Message to instructors and staff)
As predicted, case counts in our region are now declining and are expected to continue to decline. Based on these improvements, we are now ready to welcome our students back to largely in-person classes and experiences on Monday, Jan. 31, as planned.
January 14, 2022
Winter 2022 designated extraordinary circumstances quarter (Message to students, instructors and advisers)
Instructors have additional flexibility on their teaching format through January 28 to better deal with Omicron’s disruptions to our teaching and learning environment. We recognize the toll this switch is taking on students, instructors and staff. To ease that burden, we are designating winter 2022 as an Extraordinary Circumstances Quarter.
January 7, 2022
Providing increased flexibility for classes through Jan. 28 (Message to UW students and personnel)
Over the course of the week, we have continued to monitor the spread of the Omicron variant in our region and the challenges it is causing, which include significant stress on our health-care system and increased cases and positivity rates in our University community. In light of these increased disruptions, instructors will have additional flexibility to choose the modality of their classes through Jan. 28.
January 6, 2022
Pfizer vaccine boosters available for 12- to 15-year-olds (Message to UW Medicine patients)
Based on updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), UW Medicine is now providing booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to all patients 12 years of age and older who completed their primary Pfizer vaccine series at least five months previously.
