To: OSU faculty and staff
From: Dan Larson, Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Vice Provost for Student Affairs
March 10, 2021
Dear OSU Faculty and Staff,
As we approach the end of winter term and look to the beginning of spring term, I write to share information about spring break travel precautions and COVID-19 testing. Please plan carefully to protect your own and community members’ wellness.
Travel Precautions:
While positive cases of COVID-19 have recently declined and vaccine distribution is progressing well, the virus is still a great risk to you, your families, friends, the OSU community, and our nearby communities. The Oregon Health Authority continues to recommend that we stay close to home. The levels of spread in other areas of the US, relaxed public health measures in some states, and the presence of viral variants all necessitate taking extra care.
It is important that each of us continue to be vigilant by doing our part in limiting virus spread of COVID-19. Per guidance from our local public health authority, if you do travel but you have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, please adhere to the precautions below.
Get Tested and Stay Home After Travel
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Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel and stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days.
- If you test positive, self-isolate to protect others from becoming infected.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, regardless of the outcome of your test or whether or not you take a test.
Testing:
Prevalence testing for faculty and staff will continue to be offered in Corvallis and at the Hatfield Marine Science Center for all who are signed up for TRACE-OSU, both the week before and the week after spring break. Employees working onsite at OSU-Cascades are invited to be tested on March 30 and 31. For other testing needs, please contact your health care provider or visit this U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website, where you will find information that will assist you in finding a testing location near you.
This weekend, all OSU students will receive an email invitation to be tested through TRACE OSU before, and the week after, spring break. And all students living in the residence halls are required to be tested within the first 3 days of winter term.
Thank you for doing your part in observing these travel precautions, participating in testing, getting vaccinated when able, continuing to wear your face coverings, engaging in physical distancing, and limiting group size.
Sincerely,
Dan Larson
Coronavirus Response Coordinator
Vice Provost for Student Affairs