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Dear MCPHS faculty, staff, and students,
We wanted to provide you an update regarding the University’s efforts at continuing to keep our Community healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. As you likely are aware, or have learned from the news, a number of cities, towns, and states across the country are relaxing their COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates. This is exciting news, and it means we are getting closer to what life was like prior to the pandemic.
As a health science university with campuses in three cities and across two states, we also have to be mindful of what each local jurisdiction requires. These requirements can vary from city to city and state to state.
For now, MCPHS will be continuing to follow current face mask protocols, which requires only KF94, KN95, or N95 masks be worn by all Community members. The University will continue to monitor developments with mask requirements, and assess whether MCPHS can modify the mask requirement later in March post Spring Break. We will also be looking ahead to Commencement in May, but at this point, there have not been any decisions made on safety protocols for those events.
As always, the University’s primary goal is to maintain the health and safety of our community. As a result of our rigorous policies and practices, and the Community’s commitment and dedication to following them, we have successfully maintained a very low positivity rate throughout the pandemic. That is a credit to all of you. We also understand the impact COVID-19 requirements have had on the general public as well as our Community.
We will continue to monitor trends closely, and will communicate any potential changes as soon as possible. We are looking forward to the possibility of easing COVID-19 restrictions if positivity rates remain low, and other metrics on ICU capacity and hospitalizations per day stay below acceptable thresholds as defined by local governments.
Keep an eye out for updates on plans to stay in testing compliance through the Spring Break and prior to resuming classes on March 14. The University is planning to keep its testing centers open for longer hours on March 12 and March 13 to give faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to get back into testing compliance prior to their return to campus. There will be more to follow on that in the coming weeks.
Many thanks for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Lessard, President