COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center: April 14

In an email to the campus community, Ann Becker and Jeffrey Hescock, co-directors of the Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC) note that the PHPC is offering second booster shots to those eligible, the university’s positivity rate has decreased from last week and a federal mandate requiring masks on public transportation has been extended.

The email is as follows:

Dear Campus Community,

The Public Health Promotion Center continues to offer COVID-19 vaccines to anyone who needs to be vaccinated. A second booster is available for anyone over the age of 50 and certain immunocompromised individuals at least four months after their first booster. 

These boosters are available on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. through April 30. Walk-ins will be accepted, but we encourage everyone to book an appointment. Please visit the Massachusetts COVID-19 booster Frequently Asked Questions for additional information about eligibility.

We continue to monitor COVID-19 trends in the UMass community through our symptomatic, adaptive and voluntary testing program as well as wastewater surveillance. The latest COVID-19 testing data for the UMass community for April 6-12 shows 126 new positive cases. The university’s positivity rate is 3.70%, compared to last week’s rate of 4.64%. The state’s seven-day positivity rate is 3.48%. Individuals testing positive continue to report they are experiencing minimal to moderate symptoms of infection, and there is one hospitalization to report. With the widespread availability of antigen tests, individuals should continue to report their positive tests to testing@umass.edu.

The CDC announced yesterday that it is extending the nationwide mask mandate for public transit until May 3, 2022. This federal mandate requires masks aboard public transportation, including PVTA buses. 

KN95 masks remain available for free at the Public Health Promotion Center in the Campus Center, and as a community we encourage everyone to respect the choices that individuals make about their own masking.

Please do a daily symptom check. If you are sick, stay home and get tested. Be aware that allergy symptoms can resemble those of COVID-19; when you are unsure, please wear a mask, get tested and use caution until you know the results. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please wear a mask and get tested on the fifth day after exposure. 

Thank you for all that you’re doing — staying home when sick, testing when you have symptoms, and supporting each other as part of our community.

Sincerely,

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

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