Important COVID-19 Update: New Measures in Place

Dear members of the Emerson community:

In recent days, we continue to see an increase in the number of positive cases and close contacts within our community, which you have seen reflected in our COVID dashboard. Contact tracing is ongoing, and potential close contacts are being notified, while other previously notified close contacts are currently quarantining on-campus.

In consultation with the Boston Public Health Commission and Tufts Medical Center, to ensure that we contain the spread of the virus, Emerson College will take the following precautionary measures as of 5:00 pm today, April 7.  In-person classes will continue, and:

• All in-person student activities and gatherings, including athletics, whether they are indoors or outdoors, will be prohibited for at least the next seven days, effective 5:00 pm, Wednesday, April 7, through the end of the day Wednesday, April 14. This does not impact virtual activities.
• The Dining Center will offer grab and go at all stations, and food must be taken out of the Dining Center to be eaten.
• The Fitness Center at 52 Summer Street will close for at least the next seven days, beginning at 5:00 pm today.
• 172 Tremont Street will remain open for individual room reservations only; group meetings are prohibited.
• The library will be available for socially distanced study only; reserved study spaces will also be available.
• Student travel will be prohibited, beginning now through April 14. 

It is essential that students ONLY leave their residence hall room or off-campus residences to:

• Attend in-person classes, study in the library, or in reserved study space;
• Pick up food;
• Go outside for individual physically distanced exercise;
• Seek medical care;
• Participate in required COVID testing; or
• Go to or from employment.

We also request that students not attend social events or gatherings in the community and not host any guests in their residential rooms or apartments. Visiting other residential rooms or lounges other than where you reside is not permitted.

In addition, students should regularly complete the daily symptom check, even while limiting their movement for the next seven days. Reviewing and reporting how you feel, including any symptoms you might be experiencing, is essential to ensuring the health and safety of those who live and work on campus.

The Testing Center will remain open, and students are required to adhere to their testing cohort schedule. If you need to change your test appointment, please visit testing.emerson.edu or use the Emerson App. Please remember: A negative test is a reflection of a moment in time. It does not provide you with protection from the virus.

We ask faculty to ensure that all desks in the classrooms are kept at the proper social distance and to move small group work online.

We have a few more weeks before the close of the Spring term, and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant, properly wear your masks when you are in the company of people with whom you do not live, keep physical distance at all times, practice healthy hand hygiene, and continue to follow the testing protocol we have put in place.

The College will continue to monitor the situation on campus closely in the coming days and will inform you immediately of any additional measures that need to be taken.

As always, we will keep you informed of important updates and the impact of COVID-19 on our community.

Sincerely,
Erik Muurisepp
COVID-19 Lead
AVP, Campus Life