University News

COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center

The Public Health Promotion Center emailed the campus community on Thursday, sharing testing data and information on vaccines and testing.

That email is as follows:

Dear Campus Community:

The latest COVID-19 testing data covers a two-week span, from Nov. 17 to Nov. 30, and shows 67 new positive cases. The university’s cumulative positivity rate is 0.76%, up slightly from the previous rate of 0.61%. The state’s seven-day positivity rate is 5.14%.

This uptick in cases as our community returned from the Thanksgiving break is a clear reminder that we must remain vigilant in maintaining best public health practices. In particular, please keep in mind face coverings are one of the proven safeguards against the spread of infection. Mask as much as possible, particularly indoors, in crowded spaces, and on public transit and at transportation hubs. In addition to travel settings, transmission risks can increase when socializing for an extended period over drinks and meals.

Everyone must continue to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms every day before coming to campus. If you feel unwell, get testedTesting is free and readily available at the Public Health Promotion Center.

Most of our cases are of short duration resulting in mild-to-moderate illness and there are no current hospitalizations. Details about case counts and vaccinations can be found on the university’s COVID-19 Dashboard, which is updated every Thursday. The campus continues to utilize adaptive testing by increasing or decreasing the number of students selected each week to come in for additional testing based on our surveillance data.  

Our most important tool is vaccination, including getting a booster shot when you are eligible. You can make an appointment to get a vaccine booster by identifying a location through the Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccine finder or Vaccines.gov to find additional sites. PHPC vaccine clinic appointments are fully booked for the remainder of the semester but will resume in January. Please check the UMass vaccine website to book an appointment in the new year. For students, in accordance with the existing requirement that students be fully immunized against COVID-19, all students will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for the spring semester. Guidance related to booster shots for faculty and staff will be issued soon by the Office of Human Resources. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to routinely get tested for COVID throughout the holiday season as social events and family gatherings may increase exposure.

Thank you for the care you are showing and the precautions you are taking. The individual actions each of us take help keep our community safe, strong and vibrant.

Sincerely,

Co-Directors of the Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC)

Ann Becker, Public Health Director
Jeffrey Hescock, Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety