Dear Emory Students,
We hope you all were able to read President Fenves’ announcement about new COVID-19 policies yesterday, and we want to provide more information about what you can expect.
New COVID-19 Policy Changes
The following changes to Emory University’s COVID-19 policies were announced:
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Emory University will no longer require COVID-19 vaccinations for students, faculty, and staff. However, Emory Healthcare COVID-19 vaccine requirements will still be enforced for health sciences students in School of Medicine and School of Nursing, and those university employees already subject to EHC immunization requirements.
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Emory will no longer require students, faculty, and staff to report COVID-19-positive tests or complete isolation clearance forms to return to campus.
- Emory will remove all COVID-19 vaccine requirements for minors and non-Emory affiliated program participants staying in overnight on-campus housing.
As certain COVID-19 requirements lift, Emory strongly recommends all campus members continue following healthy behaviors based on CDC guidelines.
Why is Emory making this change?
Emory is making this change after evaluating COVID-19 indicators across the campus community, reviewing current public health guidance, and in consultation with our own medical experts and epidemiologists. The strong commitment by campus members to follow COVID-19 protocols over the past three years allows for transitioning away from mandates to strongly recommending campus members follow all CDC guidelines.
If You Get Sick
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should isolate and get tested. If you test positive, follow the CDC’s guidance on Isolation and Precautions for People with COVID-19. Students will no longer automatically receive check-in surveys or monitoring during isolation. Students who need additional support are encouraged to access care through Student Health Services as outlined below.
Atlanta students who are symptomatic and in need of a medical evaluation can schedule testing with a provider visit through the Student Health Patient Portal. If you do not find an available appointment, call 404-727-7551 and ask to speak with the triage nurse for assistance.
Oxford students who are symptomatic can call the Oxford Student Health office at 770-784-8376 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to schedule a test.
For after-hours and weekends for both campuses, call 404-727-7551 and press 0 for the medical advice nurse.
Self-Reporting Your Test
While it is no longer mandatory to report COVID-19-positive tests, students can choose to share positive test results through the “COVID-19 Reporting” form on the Return to Campus portal. By doing so, your school will be notified that you are self-isolating according to CDC guidelines and cannot attend class. Revised instructions to support this now-elective process will be rolled out over the coming weeks.
If You Need Additional Support
As these changes take place, Emory Forward will continue to provide information and resources on COVID-19 testing locations, how and where to get vaccinated, and what to do if you are sick or test positive for COVID-19.
If you have a high-risk medical condition that puts you at risk for COVID-19 complications or are experiencing severe symptoms, schedule an appointment at Student Health (information above) to receive assistance during isolation. Additional accommodations are available for students who need ADA or high-risk support.
Healthy Habits to Remember
Throughout the spring semester, Emory Forward will be modified to reflect these new changes, including removing outdated information, condensing web pages, and redirecting campus members to useful community resources.
As always, our public health teams continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and any potential risks it may pose to our community. We may need to adapt our response again in the future, but these changes mark a hopeful step forward in the timeline of our response.
Sincerely,
Sharon Rabinovitz, M.D.
Executive Director, Student Health Services
Kerith Pocock, DNP
Director of Student Health, Oxford Student Health Services
Amir St. Clair
Chief Resilience Officer
