Campus & Community

COVID-19 Public Health Advisory

Wednesday, March 17, 2021, By News Staff

Dear Students, Families, Faculty and Staff:

Since late last week, we have confirmed 46 new COVID-19 cases among Syracuse University students. Unlike in the past, when emerging clusters have been primarily off campus, the current situation appears to be largely concentrated to on-campus residence halls. Given the close contact nature of residence hall living, this emerging cluster has the potential—very quickly—to impact a significant number of students.

The University is taking aggressive action to prevent this situation from expanding beyond our ability to control. However, as indicated many times in the past, the best and most effective way to break the chain of virus transmission is through behavior. As such, I am asking all our students—and particularly those living in Shaw, DellPlain and Booth halls—to immediately exercise enhanced vigilance.

  1. Wear your mask at all times, to include in your residence hall.
  2. Limit contact with others as much as practically possible, to include in your residence hall.
  3. Get tested regularly. We have already initiated enhanced testing operations for certain populations, but please do not wait to be asked or directed to the testing center.
  4. Stay alert to and avoid unsafe conditions in public places and spaces, both on and off campus.
  5. Finally, please be responsive to any communication you receive from the Barnes Center, the University’s COVID Program Management Office or the Onondaga County Health Department. If you are contacted, it is likely because you have been exposed to the virus, or you may have information that could help us identify others who are at risk.

We will continue to update the campus community as we receive additional information related to this evolving situation. As always, if you have questions, concerns or information that could inform the Public Health Team’s response, do not hesitate to contact the COVID Program Management Office at 315.443.6180 or sucovid@syr.edu.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Haynie
Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives and Innovation