Carnegie Mellon University
April 19, 2022

COVID Diagnosis

Dear Members of the CMU Community:

I am writing to share with you that I recently tested positive for COVID-19. Given the typical incubation period, it is likely that I contracted the illness during business travel to the northeast last week. I am grateful that I am only experiencing mild symptoms, which is a testament to the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots. Over the course of the next week, I will be working remotely per our guidelines following a confirmed diagnosis.

As reiterated by COVID Coordinator Daryl Weinert in his message last week, I wish to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to stay up to date on your vaccinations and wear facial coverings as we weather the current rise of the highly transmissible BA.2 subvariant, particularly in situations such as larger indoor gatherings or in classrooms. As society continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19 and its variants, I hope that sharing my diagnosis with you will underscore the importance of remaining vigilant.

As epidemiologists have predicted, after more than two years of COVID-19 mitigation, we are starting to learn to live with COVID as more of an endemic phenomenon. Just as our community has throughout the pandemic, we must continue to emphasize compassion and empathy during this transition as they are vital tools for taking care of ourselves and each other.

In closing, I wish to acknowledge and thank the many dedicated staff who continue their efforts to keep our community safe, including the Community Health and Well-Being team. I look forward to returning to my office and to in-person engagements on campus once my isolation period has ended. In the meantime, I wish you all a great week ahead.

Sincerely,

Farnam Jahanian
President
Henry L. Hillman President's Chair