Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
In light of the sustained decline and stabilization in positive cases across our campuses and in the District of Columbia, we are writing to share updated public health guidance. Beginning February 12, 2022, we will return, in most cases, to the public health measures that were in place during the Fall 2021 semester. We are pleased that the public health guidance below will enable us to proceed with more in-person activities on campus while continuing to take measures to protect the health and safety of our community.
We continue to monitor public health conditions on campus and in the local region, as well as any new guidance from the CDC and the DC Department of Health, and we will provide updates when needed.
Instruction
In-person instruction resumed on Monday, January 31, 2022. Courses will continue to be taught in-person, unless the course was previously approved by the University to be taught online.
Research
Beginning February 12, in-person research activities can resume at full density.
Staff/AAP Mode of Work
As of January 31, staff/AAP employees have returned to the mode of work designations they were assigned for the 2021-22 academic year. We have extended the GUCares Dependent Care Assistance Grants through June 30, 2022, for eligible faculty and staff who have a qualified need related to child or dependent care. Please visit the University’s Dependent Care Support for Faculty and Staff page for additional information.
Vaccination Requirement
Georgetown requires students, faculty, staff and visitors to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and, as of January 21, 2022, to have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot when eligible, or to have an approved medical or religious exemption.
COVID-19 Testing
Weekly asymptomatic testing resumed the week of January 31.
In order to provide more study and community space for students on campus, we’re in the process of consolidating COVID-19 testing on the Main and Medical Center campuses. The Healey Family Student Center (HFSC) testing site will close at the end of the day on Friday, February 25. After February 25, all testing will occur at the Leavey Center site. The Great Room of the HFSC will be closed for necessary repairs between February 26 and March 13. It will reopen on Monday, March 14, and return to its original use at that time. Some additional repairs will continue in HFSC throughout the spring.
Masks
Individuals, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask indoors in University-owned or operated buildings, except when eating or drinking, when alone in a private office, or when in their personal residence. Students, faculty and staff should wear a properly-fitted, high-quality mask (e.g., N95, KN95, KF94) while on campus.
Given current conditions, we strongly discourage faculty and other speakers from removing their masks while speaking and lecturing in class or at University events. Current University guidelines allow for fully vaccinated and boosted faculty and other speakers to remove their mask when lecturing or speaking in class or at University events, if they choose, but they must be at least six feet away from others.
Symptom Monitoring
When experiencing any symptoms, students, faculty and staff should:
- Stay home, or in their campus residence,
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- Complete the COVID-19 Symptom Check-In Survey through the GU360 mobile app or website,
- Call the Student Health Center (if a student) or their physician, if needed,
- Schedule a COVID-19 test, and
- Not return to class or work until cleared by their physician or after a consultation with the Care Navigator team.
Students, faculty and staff should also complete the COVID-19 Symptom Check-In survey upon exposure to a known COVID-19 case.
Individuals with a medical or religious exemption from the vaccination requirement should complete the COVID-19 Symptom Check-In Survey each day they are on campus.
Events, Meetings and Visitors
Beginning February 12, indoor events and meetings may resume, including with visitors, provided that event organizers, meeting hosts and visitors follow the University’s visitor vaccination requirement and process. As a reminder, as of January 21, all University visitors are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have a booster shot when eligible. Physical distancing should be maintained, where feasible. The University may limit capacity in certain large indoor venues at any time (e.g., Gaston Hall, McDonough Arena).
When planning an event or meeting on campus, we strongly encourage individuals to adhere to the following best practices to protect the health and safety of our community:
- Hold your event outdoors rather than indoors, when possible;
- Take steps to limit event size, and use livestreams and Zoom conferencing when possible;
- Encourage participants to wear their masks at all times by limiting food and drink at your event and, if food must be offered, consider boxed meals outdoors;
- Limit your event to Georgetown community members only by requiring all participants to show a GOCard to access the event, when possible;
- Keep a list of attendees in the event that contact tracing becomes necessary;
- Please share information about your event with the Public Health team so they can provide additional tailored guidance.
Please visit the University’s Event and Visitor Guidelines page for more information.
Libraries and Study Spaces
Libraries will be open only to Georgetown University community members until further notice, with limited exceptions as approved by University leadership. Physical distancing should be maintained. Eating and drinking is permitted in indoor communal areas (e.g., libraries, lounges) but is not permitted in class, unless the individual has a medical accommodation. Masks may only be removed when sitting and actively eating or drinking, and individuals should keep six feet apart when not wearing a mask indoors.
Dining
As we shared in our February 3 message, indoor dining in campus dining facilities is now open at 50% capacity. Indoor dining will return to full capacity on February 12. For information on hours of operation on the Main Campus, please visit the Hoya Hospitality website.
Religious Services
In-person religious services have resumed on campus as they had during the Fall 2021 semester. Some reduced density may be necessary.
Campus Recreation
Beginning February 12, Yates Field House and Kehoe Field on the Main Campus, and the Scott K. Ginsburg Sport & Fitness Center at the Law Center will be open at full occupancy and will continue to only be open to Georgetown community members until further notice.
We are grateful for the ways in which students, faculty and staff have continued to care for each other throughout the pandemic, and we look forward to the opportunities that returning to more in-person activities will provide to continue building and strengthening our Georgetown community.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Groves
Provost
Edward B. Healton
Executive Vice President for Health Sciences
William M. Treanor
Executive Vice President and Dean of the Law Center
David Green
Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer