June 02, 2022
I write to you today with updates regarding our COVID-19 risk mitigation strategy.
University leadership has been tracking the increase in COVID-19 cases in our region, due in large part to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2.12.1 subvariant. On Friday, May 27, the CDC listed Allegheny County as an area of high transmissibility (COVID-19 by County | CDC). While our CMU community continues to experience cases of COVID-19, the vast majority of those cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. This is due in large part to our high vaccination and booster rates.
It is for these reasons that we will continue to remain in our transitional posture. All individuals are strongly recommended to wear facial coverings while indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Those individuals who are not up-to-date with respect to vaccinations continue to be required to wear facial coverings indoors. When you are not feeling well, please discuss options for working or learning remotely with your supervisor or instructor. If you test positive for COVID-19, report your case to Community Health and Well-being for instructions on isolation.
The university provides access to free resources to combat the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community, including KN95 facial coverings and COVID-19 at-home antigen test kits in vending machines. Tartan Testing also remains in full operation.
As I shared with you in my message on April 15, 2022, total COVID-19 cases are no longer the critical metric that the COVID-19 Coordination Team tracks; instead, we are focused on the severity of outcomes and the availability of medical care. In consultation with experts at CMU University Health Services, the Allegheny Health Network and peer institutions, and given that COVID-19 cases have generally low severity within our community, the university will no longer require individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccination/booster exemption to complete Tartan Testing on a weekly basis starting June 6, 2022, although it is strongly recommended. Tartan Testing remains available to all students, faculty and staff who seek an asymptomatic COVID-19 test. CMU continues to require all faculty, staff and students to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination series, which includes both vaccinations and boosters, or be approved for an exemption.
Finally, I would like to share that as of July 1, 2022, I will be stepping down as the university’s COVID-19 Coordinator to focus on my other roles as the Vice President for Operations and Interim Vice President for Research. President Jahanian has appointed Stan Waddell, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, to succeed me as COVID-19 Coordinator. Stan has served on the COVID-19 Coordination Team since its inception and has been instrumental in providing the team and the university community with the data, technology services and dashboards needed to inform leadership’s decision-making throughout the pandemic. As I have been, Stan will be supported by a cross functional team of university leaders and subject matter experts to ensure that CMU stays abreast of the latest COVID-19 data and science, and effectively manages the risks associated with COVID-19 in our community. Of course, while I am stepping down from the coordinator role, as Vice President for Operations and a member of the university’s executive management team, I will continue to stay involved in the university’s COVID response.
On a personal note, I wish to thank this resilient CMU community for continuing to weather the challenges that the global pandemic has presented, for your creativity and ingenuity to ensure continuity of our mission, and for your dedication to community health and well-being. I wish you the very best as we embark upon the summer months and I hope you take time to rest, reflect and pursue all the things that bring us joy.
Sincerely,
Daryl Weinert
Vice President for Operations, Interim Vice President for Research, COVID-19 Coordinator
CMU COVID-19 Update
Dear Members of the Carnegie Mellon University Community,I write to you today with updates regarding our COVID-19 risk mitigation strategy.
University leadership has been tracking the increase in COVID-19 cases in our region, due in large part to the highly transmissible Omicron BA.2.12.1 subvariant. On Friday, May 27, the CDC listed Allegheny County as an area of high transmissibility (COVID-19 by County | CDC). While our CMU community continues to experience cases of COVID-19, the vast majority of those cases are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. This is due in large part to our high vaccination and booster rates.
It is for these reasons that we will continue to remain in our transitional posture. All individuals are strongly recommended to wear facial coverings while indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Those individuals who are not up-to-date with respect to vaccinations continue to be required to wear facial coverings indoors. When you are not feeling well, please discuss options for working or learning remotely with your supervisor or instructor. If you test positive for COVID-19, report your case to Community Health and Well-being for instructions on isolation.
The university provides access to free resources to combat the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community, including KN95 facial coverings and COVID-19 at-home antigen test kits in vending machines. Tartan Testing also remains in full operation.
As I shared with you in my message on April 15, 2022, total COVID-19 cases are no longer the critical metric that the COVID-19 Coordination Team tracks; instead, we are focused on the severity of outcomes and the availability of medical care. In consultation with experts at CMU University Health Services, the Allegheny Health Network and peer institutions, and given that COVID-19 cases have generally low severity within our community, the university will no longer require individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccination/booster exemption to complete Tartan Testing on a weekly basis starting June 6, 2022, although it is strongly recommended. Tartan Testing remains available to all students, faculty and staff who seek an asymptomatic COVID-19 test. CMU continues to require all faculty, staff and students to be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccination series, which includes both vaccinations and boosters, or be approved for an exemption.
Finally, I would like to share that as of July 1, 2022, I will be stepping down as the university’s COVID-19 Coordinator to focus on my other roles as the Vice President for Operations and Interim Vice President for Research. President Jahanian has appointed Stan Waddell, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, to succeed me as COVID-19 Coordinator. Stan has served on the COVID-19 Coordination Team since its inception and has been instrumental in providing the team and the university community with the data, technology services and dashboards needed to inform leadership’s decision-making throughout the pandemic. As I have been, Stan will be supported by a cross functional team of university leaders and subject matter experts to ensure that CMU stays abreast of the latest COVID-19 data and science, and effectively manages the risks associated with COVID-19 in our community. Of course, while I am stepping down from the coordinator role, as Vice President for Operations and a member of the university’s executive management team, I will continue to stay involved in the university’s COVID response.
On a personal note, I wish to thank this resilient CMU community for continuing to weather the challenges that the global pandemic has presented, for your creativity and ingenuity to ensure continuity of our mission, and for your dedication to community health and well-being. I wish you the very best as we embark upon the summer months and I hope you take time to rest, reflect and pursue all the things that bring us joy.
Sincerely,
Daryl Weinert
Vice President for Operations, Interim Vice President for Research, COVID-19 Coordinator