Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
Our Care Navigator team has learned that at least 36 Georgetown community members, primarily undergraduate students, have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 48 hours, which is the largest daily increase in cases in our community since January 2021. We are in touch with these individuals to provide support and guidance during their isolation and conduct contact tracing. At this point, we believe there are multiple small clusters, mainly from social gatherings and activities, and that these cases are not tied to spread due to in-person learning. We are working closely with the DC Department of Health on these cases.
Given this recent increase in positive cases, I am notifying you out of an abundance of caution and asking you to take the public health measures below to protect yourself and others.
- All undergraduate students must get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible, preferably by Saturday, October 30, at the Healey Family Student Center or Leavey Center. We have extended hours on Friday, October 29, until 4 p.m. at both testing sites and added hours at the Leavey Center testing site this Saturday, October 30, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please make an appointment via the One Medical mobile app or website to get tested for free on campus. If you have been tested in the past 72 hours, you do not need to get tested again. If you have had a positive test within the past 90 days, you do not need to get tested.
- Wear a mask, including in dining facilities and lounge areas when not actively eating or drinking: Wearing a mask is an added layer of protection and a way to demonstrate care for our community and fellow Hoyas. As a reminder, except for when you are in your own residence or alone in a room with a closed door, please wear a mask indoors, including in dining facilities and hallways and common spaces (e.g., kitchens, study rooms, lounge areas) in residence halls, except while actively eating or drinking. Food and beverage consumption in student center study areas will be restricted at this time. Public Health ambassadors will be monitoring these areas to ensure mask wearing at all times.
- Grab-and-go dining: We are reducing density and offering more grab-and-go options in all on-campus dining facilities, and we recommend using grab-and-go options at this time.
- Limit gatherings: Please limit the size of social gatherings at this time, including those during Halloween weekend. We also recommend holding events and activities outdoors as much as possible.
- Monitor symptoms and stay home if you develop symptoms: If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please remain in your residence, do not go to class, work or other events on campus, and report your symptoms to the Public Health team by completing the COVID-19 Daily Check-In survey via the GU360 mobile app or website. Unless you receive a separate notification from the Care Navigator team, you do not need to quarantine, so you can continue to go to class, work and other events on campus at this time.
If you have questions or would like to speak with one of our team members, please contact our Care Navigator team at covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu or visit the University’s COVID-19 Resource Center for more information.
I recognize this is not the news you want to see, but as we have learned in the past 19 months, COVID-19 can be unpredictable. The pandemic is still here, and we all need to continue to take steps to protect every member of our community. We will continue to monitor public health conditions and provide updates about this situation as it evolves.
Sincerely,
Ranit Mishori, M.D., MHS, FAAFP
Professor of Family Medicine, Vice President and Chief Public Health Officer