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A Safe Welcome Back to In-Person Classes

January 21, 2022

A message welcoming back students, faculty and professional staff who returned to campus this week, was sent to the Drexel community. 

Summary

  • The recent COVID-19 Omicron surge in Philadelphia continues to decrease in Philadelphia and at Drexel.
  • It remains vital to follow Drexel public health guidelines:
    • Follow all testing and contact tracing guidelines and let Drexel know if you had COVID over the winter break/remote period.
    • Be prepared to quarantine or isolate if needed.
    • Record your booster shot in the Drexel Health Checker.
    • Wear a well-fitting mask in all shared indoor campus spaces.
    • Dine and socialize safely; follow Philadelphia’s indoor dining vaccine mandate for off-campus dining.
    • Make sure visitors to campus follow Drexel guidelines, complete the Drexel Visitor Health Checker Pass, and are prepared to show an identification card and vaccination card.
  • For more, please review the Provost’s winter FAQs for students and faculty.

Dear Drexel Students and Colleagues, 

To those who returned this week, welcome back to campus!

We thank you again for your patience with our decision to hold the first two weeks of winter term remotely. This approach was borne out by data pointing to a COVID-19 surge in the Philadelphia area, which has now begun to decrease. At its peak, Philadelphia reported up to 45% COVID test positivity with close to 50,000 positive tests over the two weeks starting December 26. This was mirrored at Drexel’s testing sites. Following a holiday break when sites were closed, Drexel saw 567 people with positive tests (17% positivity) the opening week of January 3-9, which dropped by nearly half, to 238 positive tests (9% positivity) during the second week of remote classes. Most of the infections among employees and students were related to exposures during holiday gatherings, at a time of exceedingly high community transmission, when courses were being held remotely. Importantly, the vast majority of infections among vaccinated persons were mild.

While in the city of Philadelphia and within the Drexel community, the current COVID surge appears to have peaked, a public health approach remains key to containing COVID infection, decreasing the chances of the emergence of new variants and supporting the ability of all of us to be together with less restrictions in place over time. We are grateful that most infection is mild in nature among vaccinated persons, but we note that COVID remains an infection no one should want to experience. In time, newer methods of prevention and treatment will become available to us, and we will collectively move closer to a more manageable situation and a sense of normalcy.

At this time when we return to seeing friends and colleagues in person, we must help each other stay safe by continuing to follow all Drexel public health guidelines, including the following:

  • Drexel residential students must comply with testing, isolation and contact tracing policies. All students returning to on-campus housing have been undergoing COVID testing. Overall, infections continue to decrease this week. As always, all vaccine-exempt students, faculty and staff will continue with weekly mandatory testing. Any student/employee, especially those who are symptomatic or exposed can obtain a COVID test by using the Health Checker to schedule their test. Overall isolation time has been decreased, based on CDC guidelines modified for a university campus and congregate housing settings. Please note that Drexel isolation protocols for COVID-infected persons are symptom-based and not routinely driven by rapid antigen testing/home test kits. Most people will end isolation in 5 days, but to help you recover and not infect other individuals, you may be asked to remain in isolation more than 5 days, based on symptom screening done by the COVID surveillance team.

  • Make sure Student Health knows if you had a COVID infection in the past few weeks. If you had a positive COVID test and/or symptomatic COVID infection, provide that information by uploading your result through the Drexel Health Checker, as this may change your testing plan moving forward.

  • Get your required booster shot. If it’s been 5+ months since your mRNA vaccine (or 2+ months since your J&J vaccine), you must provide documentation of a booster shot through the Drexel Health Checker. If you haven’t been able to do so yet, register for one of Drexel’s and SunRay Pharmacy’s upcoming booster clinics now or call Student Health at 215-220-4700 to arrange for a booster shot.

  • Get a well-fitting mask. Our indoor mask policy has not changed. Be prepared to wear a mask in all shared indoor spaces, including classrooms (you can remove it inside a dorm room with your roommates and when in designated eating areas on campus). Make sure you have a mask that fits well to reduce the risk of transmission. Ways to do so include wearing a KF94 or KN95 mask or wearing a disposable multi-layer surgical mask underneath a well-fitting cloth mask. We do not recommend routine use of N95 masks. See the CDC’s updated information on masks here. Campus Health Ambassadors routinely tour academic buildings and have extra masks to give out should you forget to wear one. All security personnel in building lobbies also have access to masks for those who forget.

  • Dine and socialize safely. Masks work! We know it’s hard, but as the Omicron surge abates, we strongly recommend you wear a mask when you’re socializing indoors or in crowds and keep gatherings small where possible. Masks are currently required in most Philadelphia venues. If you’re dining on campus, stick to designated dining areas and only remove your mask while eating or drinking. If you’re dining off-campus, be prepared to show proof of vaccination in compliance with Philadelphia’s vaccine mandate for indoor dining (does not apply to Drexel dining halls).

  • Review the guidelines for in-person instruction. Up-to-date questions and answers can be found on the Provost’s winter FAQs for students and faculty, as well as on Drexel’s Public Health Guidelines page. If you need an accommodation for a documented disability, contact the Office of Disability Resources. If you have a question about ventilation or other workspace safety concerns, contact your building or department manager.
  • Make sure your visitors follow Drexel guidelines. Any visitors to campus buildings must wear a mask at all times, complete the Drexel Visitor Health Checker Pass and show a green check mark, and provide proof of vaccination that matches ID to whomever is hosting during their visit/event.

The recent Omicron surge in our region is finally on the decline. Vaccinations and boosters do the work of preventing severe infection/hospitalization or preventing infection altogether as community transmission decreases. Masks work. Isolation time is shorter for most and more treatments are becoming available for COVID-19 disease. It may feel exhausting, but things are getting better. We see it in our daily work at Drexel and in our relationships with others. Even in the face of an ever-changing pandemic, we are confident that this community will continue to follow guidance and the principles of caring for one another as we navigate winter and spring together.

All the best,

Marla J. Gold, M.D.
Chief Wellness Officer
Senior Vice Provost for Community Health

Janet Cruz, M.D.
Director, Student Health Services