COVID-19 Update from the UMass Public Health Promotion Center Dec. 16

The co-directors of the Public Health Promotion Center, Ann Becker and Jeffrey Hescock, emailed students, faculty and staff on Thursday reminding them about booster shot requirements, COVID testing availability and positivity rates. This email was the final weekly message for the fall 2021 semester.

That email is as follows

Dear Campus Community:

With final exams concluding for the fall semester, we want to wish all faculty, staff and students a restful and healthy winter break. Please remember, it is important during the holiday season to remain vigilant in maintaining best public health practices.

Vaccines remain the best public health tool available to protect you from COVID-19. All UMass Amherst students, faculty and staff are required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Boosters ensure long-lasting protection against waning immunity. The emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and booster doses.

You can make an appointment to get a vaccine booster by identifying a location through the Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccine finder or Vaccines.gov. The PHPC vaccine clinic will reopen in the new year, so please check the UMass vaccine website for future available dates.

The latest COVID-19 testing data from Dec. 8 to 14 shows 86 new positive cases. The university’s cumulative positivity rate is 1.60%, down slightly from last week’s rate of 1.76%. The state’s seven-day positivity rate is 5.35%.

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. This is the final weekly PHPC message for the fall semester.

Everyone must continue to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms every day before coming to campus. If you feel unwell, stay home. Testing is free and readily available at the Public Health Promotion Center. During winter break PHPC’s testing hours are modified, so please check UMass testing website for our hours. Testing resumes at the PHPC on Jan. 3.

We want to thank everyone for all you have done to keep our community safe throughout the semester. 

Sincerely, 

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

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