COVID-19 FAQs

Are Georgetown students, faculty and staff required to be vaccinated against COVID-19?

Yes. As President DeGioia shared in his April 14 message and June 17 message, following the guidance of our chief public health officer, Dr. Ranit Mishori, and our Public Health Advisory group, and in consultation with student, staff and faculty leaders, all students, faculty and staff who will be on one of Georgetown’s campuses or in a University-owned or operated building in Washington, DC, this fall must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Medical and religious exemptions will be granted in accordance with federal and local law. 

Georgetown University is now able to vaccinate students, faculty and staff on campus, at no cost to community members. Vaccines will be available by appointment only on a rolling basis. If you are interested in getting vaccinated on campus, sign up for a vaccination appointment. Widespread access to vaccines in our region means that no employee should be concerned about access to vaccines in order to adhere to this requirement.

Please visit the University’s COVID-19 Vaccines web page for more information.

Why is the University requiring students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated? 

Vaccination is the most important tool to protect members of our community and to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines offer significant protection to individuals from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, from being hospitalized and from dying. Research also suggests that fully vaccinated individuals are much less likely to become infected or spread the virus to others. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.

Community members can get vaccinated for free by signing up for an on-campus vaccination appointment or by going to a nearby vaccination clinic.

Staff may use COVID-19 PTO for their vaccination appointment and to recover from any short-term side effects of the vaccine. If a staff member has already used all of their COVID-19 PTO, they may request to use donated PTO by completing a time off request in GMS through the Request Donated PTO time off plan.

When does the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students take effect?

Students need to submit documentation showing that they are fully vaccinated through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website by August 1, 2021. Students enrolled in online programs that do not have any on-campus components are exempt from this requirement.

Individuals who have received a COVID-19 vaccine that is not currently authorized by the FDA or the WHO will need to be re-vaccinated with a FDA-authorized vaccine upon arrival on campus. Please email covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu for guidance on scheduling an appointment and receiving a deadline extension, and submit proof of your prior vaccination through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website.

Individuals who will not be fully vaccinated when they arrive on campus for the Fall 2021 semester because COVID-19 vaccines are not available or widely accessible in their home country, or to their age group, will need to be vaccinated with a FDA-authorized vaccine upon arrival on campus. Please email covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu for guidance on scheduling an appointment and receiving a deadline extension.

Individuals who are being re-vaccinated, are in between doses, have received two doses but two weeks have not passed since their final dose or are being vaccinated for the first time on campus will need to request a deadline extension, and they must email covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu to coordinate their vaccination plan.

Individuals who receive a deadline extension will be able to participate in in-person activities and classes on campus while they are receiving their vaccination, but they will need to wear a mask at all times (indoors and outdoors, except in very limited circumstances such as when eating, or in their personal residence or a private office with a closed door) and participate in enhanced testing protocols until they have submitted documentation showing they are fully vaccinated.

When does the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for employees take effect? 

All employees need to submit proof of vaccination, through GU360 as described below, by August 9, 2021. If you need to request a medical or religious exemption, please follow the process described below. If you do not need to request a medical or religious exemption but extenuating circumstances will prevent you from being fully vaccinated by August 9, 2021, please contact the Public Health team at covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu to coordinate your vaccination plan and request a deadline extension. While you complete the vaccination process, you will need to wear a mask at all times while on campus (indoors and outdoors) and participate in an enhanced testing protocol until you have submitted documentation showing that you are fully vaccinated.

Which COVID-19 vaccines will meet Georgetown’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement?

Georgetown will accept vaccines either authorized for emergency use or granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO). As of June 17, 2021, this combined list includes Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), AstraZeneca, COVISHIELD, Sinopharm and Sinovac. The FDA and WHO may authorize additional vaccines in the coming weeks and months.

How do I provide documentation of my vaccination?

All members of our community should submit documentation of their COVID-19 vaccination (e.g., CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card) through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website. Please follow these instructions to submit your documentation. If you have already shared it with the Care Navigator team, you do not need to submit it again through GU360.

Will Georgetown host vaccination clinics for students, faculty and staff? 

Georgetown University is now able to vaccinate students, faculty and staff on campus, at no cost to community members. Vaccines will be available by appointment only on a rolling basis.

If you are interested in getting vaccinated on campus, sign up for a vaccination appointment.

We are deeply grateful to our partners at the DC Department of Health for enabling us to offer this opportunity to our community.

How do I request a medical or religious exemption? 

Requests for a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement must be submitted by Monday, July 19, 2021, for students, and Monday, July 26, 2021, for employees. Additional requests will be considered on a rolling basis after these dates. However, all students and employees are encouraged to submit any exemption requests as soon as possible.

Students may request a medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement by completing the exemption request form and submitting the information required. The student will need to log in using their netID and password and navigate to the My Forms section and complete the COVID-19 Vaccine Documentation electronic form. They will need to indicate religious or medical exemption and upload supporting documentation within the form.

Faculty and staff may request a medical exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement by completing the Disability Accommodation Request for Employees form and submitting the information required.

Faculty and staff may request a religious exemption by completing the Religious Accommodation form.

Please visit the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action website for more information about requesting accommodations.

If a medical or religious waiver is granted, the student or employee will receive an individualized accommodation with information on the public health measures that they will need to take, which will include following the University’s COVID-19 Testing Protocol and COVID-19 Mask Guidelines for unvaccinated individuals.

Will students or employees who are exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine requirement be able to return to campus?

Yes. If a medical or religious waiver is granted, the student or employee will receive an individualized accommodation with information on the public health measures that they will need to take, which will include following the University’s COVID-19 Testing Protocol and COVID-19 Mask Guidelines for unvaccinated individuals.

I have been vaccinated but I have a compromised immune system and may not be fully protected. What should I do?

If you believe you are immunocompromised please consult your physician and take additional precautions such as mask wearing and physical distancing even in situations where these are not required.

Many individuals with conditions that render them immunocompromised are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. We strongly recommend you contact your physician to discuss obtaining an additional dose to better protect yourself.

If and when you do get a booster shot, please upload documentation of this dose via the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website.

If you are a student and think you require accommodations, please consult your campus disability services office (Academic Resource Center for the Main Campus, or Office of Disability Services for the Law Center). If you are a faculty or staff member, please consult the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action.

What if I am designated as a telework employee for the Fall 2021 semester? 

Vaccination is required for everyone who returns to campus, in any capacity, this fall. An employee’s work mode has been determined based on the nature of their position, rather than vaccination status. If an employee’s mode of work has been designated as fully telework, and they do not anticipate regularly accessing campus or participating in any in-person University-related activity, they do not need to be vaccinated, but we strongly encourage all members of our community to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others. If a fully-telework employee needs to visit campus this fall, they will need to follow all visitor protocols in place at the time.

What if I do not get vaccinated?

As required by law, we will ensure that there is a process for those who may wish to pursue medical or religious exemptions to this requirement. Individuals who are granted accommodations will be required to comply with appropriate workplace restrictions, including the wearing of masks, social distancing indoors and participating in frequent COVID-19 testing. 

For employees who remain unvaccinated and do not qualify for an accommodation, on a case-by-case basis, the University may offer reassignment to an alternative position or the employee may take a period of unpaid leave or use accrued paid time off.

What if I need to take time off to get vaccinated or recover from any side effects?

Staff may use COVID-19 PTO for their vaccination appointment and to recover from any short-term side effects of the vaccine. If a staff member has already used all of their COVID-19 PTO, they may request to use donated PTO by completing a time off request in GMS through the Request Donated PTO time off plan.

I am a student in an online program that includes no on-campus presence. Do I need to be vaccinated?

No. If you are a student in an online course or program that does not require on-campus presence, you do not need to be vaccinated, but we strongly encourage you to get vaccinated to protect yourself and others.

I am a student in a hybrid online/on-campus program. Do I need to be vaccinated?

Yes. If you are a student in a course or program that requires on-campus presence, you will need to be fully vaccinated and submit documentation of your COVID-19 vaccination.

I am a visiting student attending Georgetown University through the Consortium of Universities in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Do I need to be vaccinated?

Yes. If you are a student enrolled in a course or program at Georgetown that requires on-campus presence, you will need to be fully vaccinated prior to the Fall 2021 semester and submit documentation of your COVID-19 vaccination.

I am fully vaccinated. Will I need to continue wearing a mask, participating in the Georgetown COVID-19 testing program, and completing the COVID-19 Daily Check-In?

Yes. Individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will wear a mask indoors on campus, except when eating or drinking, when alone in a private office, when in your personal residence, or when, if a faculty member who is fully vaccinated, you are lecturing in a classroom setting.

All University community members, regardless of vaccination status, need to take an arrival test prior to resuming work or study on campus in order to establish a baseline understanding of public health conditions at the beginning of the Fall semester.

Beginning in early September, we will start testing a randomly selected pool of our fully vaccinated student, faculty and staff community each week. Every Monday, fully vaccinated community members will be randomly selected for asymptomatic testing and receive an email asking them to complete a COVID-19 test at one of our on-campus testing sites as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday of that week. Any non-fully-vaccinated member of our community is required to test twice per week.

In addition to random asymptomatic testing, we will continue to test asymptomatic individuals who have been in close contact with, or potentially exposed to, somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19. As a reminder, randomized asymptomatic testing supplements free COVID-19 testing on demand, symptomatic testing, and the testing requirements for unvaccinated individuals.

Georgetown has partnered with One Medical to provide COVID-19 testing on campus at no charge to University community members.

All community members coming to campus are required to fill out the COVID-19 Daily Check-In survey through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website to attest that they are symptom free at the beginning of each day they are on campus.

Georgetown will use information from this survey to provide health, quarantine and testing guidance to anyone with symptoms or who may have had an exposure to COVID-19.

Community members are expected to stay home or in their on-campus residence if they have any symptoms, call the Student Health Center (if a student) or their physician, schedule a COVID-19 test, and self-quarantine until cleared by their physician or after a consultation with the Care Navigator team.

I have been vaccinated and recently been exposed to somebody who tested positive. Do I still need to quarantine?

According to CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine unless they show symptoms of COVID-19. However, they should be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and wear a mask in indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after they receive their final vaccine dose.

Persons who do not meet all of the above criteria should continue to follow current quarantine guidance.

I already had COVID-19. Should I still receive the vaccine?

Yes. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated even if you have been sick with COVID-19 or infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While you will probably have some natural immunity, it is unclear how long it may last. Therefore, you can get vaccinated as soon as you finish isolation (generally 10 days after being infected).

I live outside the United States and have received a COVID-19 vaccine that is not authorized by the FDA or WHO. What should I do? Will I need to be re-vaccinated?

If you have received a COVID-19 vaccine that is not currently authorized by the FDA or the WHO, you will receive a deadline extension and will need to be re-vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine upon arrival on campus. Please email covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu for guidance on scheduling an appointment and receiving a deadline extension, and submit proof of your prior vaccination through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website.

You will be able to participate in in-person activities and classes on campus while you are receiving your vaccination, but you will need to wear a mask at all times (indoors and outdoors, except in very limited circumstances such as when eating or in your personal residence or a private office with a closed door) and participate in enhanced testing protocols until you have submitted documentation showing that you are fully vaccinated.

I won’t be fully vaccinated when I arrive on campus for the Fall 2021 semester because COVID-19 vaccines are not available or widely available in my country, or to my age group. Will I have to study remotely and be unable to participate in campus activities until I am fully vaccinated? 

Please email covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu for guidance on scheduling an appointment and receiving a deadline extension. You will be able to participate in in-person activities and classes while you are receiving your vaccination, but you will need to wear a mask at all times (indoors and outdoors, except in very limited circumstances such as when eating or in your personal residence or a private office with a closed door) and participate in enhanced testing protocols until you have submitted documentation showing that you are fully vaccinated.

I am an international student and my country allows for the mixing of two COVID-19 vaccines (e.g., AstraZeneca and Pfizer). Will I be considered “fully vaccinated”?

Yes. As long as you submit documentation of having received two different WHO or FDA-approved vaccines within the right interval, you will be considered fully vaccinated.

I am only able to receive one dose of a WHO-approved vaccine in my country? Should I wait to get the vaccine in the US?

Please get whichever vaccine is available to you at your earliest opportunity, so you at least have some protection. Please contact chiefpublichealthofficer@georgetown.edu to review your individual situation and decide on a course of action once you arrive in the U.S.

I had COVID-19 and received only one dose of a two-dose vaccine because my doctor said that was enough. Will I be considered fully vaccinated? 

This practice is not consistent with CDC guidelines, which recommend that everyone, regardless of prior infection status, receive the full 2-doses of a 2-dose vaccine or one dose of the J&J vaccine. If you are seeking an exemption from the requirement that you receive the second dose of a 2-dose vaccine, please submit a medical exemption request through Student Health (for students) and IDEAA (for faculty and staff). 

Individuals who are being re-vaccinated, are in between doses and and planned to obtain a second dose, have received two doses but two weeks have not passed since their final dose, or are being vaccinated for the first time on campus will need to request a deadline extension by emailing covidcarenavigator@georgetown.edu to coordinate their vaccination plan.

I need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but I am also due for some other vaccines. Will I be able to receive them at the same time?

Based on CDC guidance, COVID-19 vaccines may be co-administered with other vaccines without regard to timing. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 and other vaccines on the same day, as well as co-administration within 14 days.

Will I know who is and who is not vaccinated?

No, in order to protect personal privacy, you will not know who has or has not been vaccinated, unless the individual discloses that information to you directly. The vast majority of Georgetown community members on campus this fall will be fully vaccinated, which will provide significant protection to our campus community. In addition, please do not assume that because someone is wearing a mask on campus that they are not fully vaccinated. Individuals may choose to wear a mask when it is not required for various reasons (e.g., they have a compromised immune system, have a family member with a compromised immune system, or have a family member who cannot be vaccinated).

Am I eligible to receive a booster shot?

You are considered fully vaccinated after receiving the two-dose series of the mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer- BioNTech), a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, or other University-approved, WHO-authorized vaccines.

At this time, the CDC has authorized a booster dose for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for certain groups of individuals, and, on a more limited basis, for the Moderna vaccine.

For Individuals who Received the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine:

The recommendations state the following groups are eligible to receive the booster at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series:

• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings (highly recommended)
• People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions (highly recommended)
• People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions (based on their individual benefits and risks), and
• People aged 18-64 years who live or work in “high risk settings” (occupational or institutional) (based on their individual benefits and risks).

If you are in one of these categories and your primary vaccine series was Pfizer-BioNTech, we encourage you to get your booster dose at your local pharmacy, where it is widely available. You can receive it without a prescription and at no charge to you after you self-attest that you fall under one of the above-mentioned categories. Georgetown is not administering any COVID-19 vaccines on campus at this time.

For Individuals who Received the Moderna Vaccine: 

As of early September 2021, an additional dose of the Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after the second dose has only been recommended by the CDC and FDA for individuals who are immunocompromised. If you are in this category, we encourage you to get your additional dose at your local pharmacy, where it is widely available. You can receive it without a prescription and at no charge to you after you self-attest that you are in this category. Georgetown is not administering any COVID-19 vaccines on campus at this time.

Authorization of a booster dose of the Moderna vaccine for other groups, and of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, is pending FDA authorization and CDC recommendations. 

Georgetown University continues to follow recommendations from the CDC and the FDA and will continue to update our community with any new information.

If and when you do get a booster shot, please upload documentation of this dose via the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website.

How will Georgetown protect my privacy?

Georgetown will continue to comply with all applicable privacy, confidentiality and public health laws relating to collection and maintenance of health-related records. The University recognizes the importance of protecting private health information and will protect faculty, student and staff privacy by limiting what sensitive information is collected, who has access to it, how it is used and how long it is retained to the extent possible while protecting public health.

Who is required to be tested for COVID-19?

All University community members, regardless of vaccination status, need to take an arrival test prior to resuming work or study on campus in order to establish a baseline understanding of public health conditions at the beginning of the Fall semester. Individuals who have already been testing on campus do not need to take an arrival test, but they need to have taken at least one test during the month of August.

A randomly selected pool of our fully vaccinated student, faculty and staff community are tested each week. Every Friday, fully vaccinated community members will be randomly selected for asymptomatic testing the following week and receive an email asking them to complete a COVID-19 test at one of our on-campus testing sites as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday of that week. Any non-fully-vaccinated member of our community is required to test twice per week.

In addition to random asymptomatic testing, we will continue to test asymptomatic individuals who have been in close contact with, or potentially exposed to, somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19. As a reminder, randomized asymptomatic testing supplements free COVID-19 testing on demand, symptomatic testing, and the testing requirements for unvaccinated individuals.

Georgetown has partnered with One Medical to provide COVID-19 testing on campus at no charge to University community members.

After their arrival test, can fully vaccinated students, faculty, and staff continue to get tested on campus, even when it’s not required?

Yes. Fully vaccinated students, faculty, and staff may schedule an on-campus test through the One Medical app at any time during the Fall 2021 semester, at no charge to them. We also urge anyone with symptoms, even the most minor ones, to get tested.

How does the COVID-19 testing work?

Please visit Georgetown’s COVID-19 Testing Protocol webpage for more information.

If I get a COVID-19 test through my healthcare provider or at an off-campus testing facility, does that count?

Yes, you may choose to schedule a PCR test with a third-party healthcare provider, if the testing occurs within the time frame specified in the University’s COVID-19 Testing Protocol. Payment for third-party testing is your responsibility.

It is also your responsibility to report your test results to Georgetown in a timely manner. You, or your provider, may send your test results directly to Georgetown’s chief public health officer at covid19-test-results@georgetown.edu.

Will students, faculty, and staff be charged for COVID-19 testing?

Georgetown will provide free COVID-19 tests, administered by One Medical, to students, faculty, and staff. Georgetown will not cover testing conducted at other facilities, such as your primary care provider. Family of live-in Georgetown faculty and staff members who reside with them on campus or who live in Georgetown-owned properties are eligible to register with One Medical to receive free testing, but the University cannot offer testing to family members of non-residential faculty and staff.

What is One Medical?

Georgetown has partnered with One Medical, a leading primary care provider network, to provide COVID-19 testing at no charge to our University community members.

Who needs to use the One Medical app?

Students, faculty and staff who will be on any university-owned, managed, or controlled properties must follow Georgetown’s COVID-19 Testing Protocol, including testing scheduled via the One Medical app. Georgetown will email instructions about signing up for the mobile app to students, faculty, and staff who are required to use it.

Why am I being asked for a registration code or to pay a registration fee during One Medical registration?

The University is working with One Medical, a leading primary care provider network, to provide on-campus COVID-19 testing at no charge to eligible community members. 

Every active Georgetown community member with a net ID is eligible for COVID-19 testing through One Medical. At the time of registration, One Medical matches your NetID email address to a list of community members provided by Georgetown.

If you are prompted to apply a code or pay a registration fee, this is a sign that One Medical has not been able to match you to the list of community members for one of the following reasons:

• You are not using your NetID email address. FirstName.LastName@georgetown.edu and personal email addresses are NOT provided to One Medical.
• You are not using the sponsored membership link. You must use a sponsored membership link so One Medical knows to look for your NetID email address and route you to the Georgetown registration process.
• You have recently been hired by Georgetown or have recently enrolled as a student. Georgetown provides a new list of approved community members to One Medical every evening. When you enroll as a student, you will be added to the list of approved community members provided to One Medical. When you are hired by Georgetown, your manager and campus leadership will alert HR that you will be on campus and you will be added to the list of approved community members provided to One Medical. If your approval takes place after that day’s data transfer, you will be added to the next day’s list and appear the following day.

If you are eligible for a free One Medical membership but you continue to run into registration issues, please contact One Medical at 1-888-ONEMED1 (1-888-663-6331) or hello@onemedical.com.

How do I register for a One Medical account? 

Using the browser on your computer or mobile phone, you can follow the direct link provided by Georgetown to the registration page for One Medical. You will then enter your NetID Georgetown email address and follow the prompts to complete the registration process. Please note that, if you use a browser to register, One Medical will use cookies and other tracking technologies, as described in the One Medical Privacy Policy.

More detailed instructions are available for browser-based registration.

How do I get the One Medical app?

You can download the free One Medical app by going to either the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).

Will One Medical share my COVID-19 test results with Georgetown? 

When you register as a One Medical member, you will need to submit a consent form authorizing One Medical to release COVID-19 test results to Georgetown. Please indicate that “Georgetown University” is the party to receive the information covered under the authorization.

What does One Medical do with my COVID-19 test results?

Once you submit the consent form, your COVID-19 test results and testing administration information (e.g., dates of testing) will only be shared between One Medical and Georgetown, as authorized by you. Your individual information may also be shared by One Medical or Georgetown with testing laboratories, as necessary to perform COVID-19 testing, and with health authorities, as required by law.

Georgetown will continue to comply with all applicable privacy, confidentiality, and public health laws relating to collection and maintenance of testing and other health-related records. The University recognizes the importance of protecting private health information and will protect faculty, student, and staff privacy by limiting what sensitive information is collected, who has access to it, how it is used, and how long it is retained to the extent possible while protecting public health.

Can I use One Medical on my computer/laptop instead of my mobile phone?

You can book testing appointments and view provider messages on your computer or laptop as well as through the mobile app. Please note that, if you use a browser, One Medical will use cookies and other tracking technologies, as described in the One Medical Privacy Policy.

How will Georgetown know if I complete the daily COVID-19 symptom check-in survey?

Georgetown will have access to the risk status resulting from your daily COVID-19 symptom check-in submission.

Who can I contact with questions/assistance about One Medical?

If you have any questions or concerns about the testing process or the One Medical app, please contact One Medical at 1-888-ONEMED1 (1-888-663-6331) or hello@onemedical.com.

Am I required to wear a mask while on campus? 

Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to wear a mask in outdoor campus spaces, except where directed, in limited circumstances, including during certain University events. All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, need to continue to wear a mask when indoors on campus, except when eating or drinking, when alone in a private room with a closed door or when in their personal residence without guests. Please refer to the COVID-19 Mask Guidelines for additional information.

We strongly recommend individuals wear a surgical-style mask, or other medical-style mask, or consider double-masking (cloth mask on top of a surgical-style mask). We recommend against wearing a cloth mask alone.

Are faculty and other speakers required to wear a mask while speaking or lecturing? 

Masking is proven to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and infection. Thus, individuals, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear a mask indoors in University-owned or operated buildings with limited exceptions (e.g., when eating or drinking or when alone in a private office). Given current conditions, we strongly encourage faculty and other speakers to wear masks while speaking and lecturing in class or at University events. Current University guidelines allow for fully vaccinated faculty and other speakers to remove their mask when lecturing or speaking in class or at University events, if they choose, but they must be at least 6 feet away from others. Recall that all classrooms have instructor microphones and amplifiers. Students are required to wear masks while in class, unless they have a University-approved disability accommodation, and no eating or drinking in class will be permitted, unless they have a medical accommodation.  

For faculty interested in clear masks to use while lecturing, please contact the following office for your campus:

• Main Campus/Medical Center: please contact Mark Cohen (cohenm@georgetown.edu)
• School of Continuing Studies (SCS): please contact Kelly Troxell (kat36@georgetown.edu)
• Law Center: please contact Faculty Support at lawfacultysupport@georgetown.edu or 202-662-9280

If I cannot wear a mask for reasons related to my inclusion in a protected category or a disability, can I request an accommodation?

Employees or students who live or work on campus and cannot wear a mask for reasons related to their inclusion in a protected category may request an accommodation through the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action (IDEAA). Students who wish to request a disability-related accommodation may do so by contacting the Academic Resource Center (for Main Campus and Medical Center students) or the Office of Disability Services (for Law Center students).

Am I required to wear a mask while exercising?

Under the COVID-19 Mask Guidelines, individuals will need to wear a mask when exercising indoors, until these guidelines are eased.

I’ve had COVID-19. Do I need to wear a mask?

Yes, you should continue to wear a mask. According to the CDC, we still do not know whether having had an infection can protect you from reinfection, or provide immunity. Wearing a mask will help protect you and others from transmitting or acquiring an infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

What are the different types of masks?

In general, a surgical-style mask is a disposable face mask with an adjustable metal strip to provide a snug fit over your nose. If you are buying your own surgical-style masks, look for them to be designated as ASTM Level 2 or 3. 

Surgical-style masks should be replaced daily. Please dispose of your mask in a trash can when you are finished using it, and wash your hands.

In general, a cloth mask is made of cotton or other materials, may be made of one or more layers, and is washable and reusable. Although wearing a cloth mask is better than going maskless, current research suggests that wearing a cloth mask is not as effective as wearing a surgical-style mask in reducing transmission and exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19.

We strongly recommend individuals wear a surgical-style mask, or other medical-style mask, or consider double-masking (cloth mask on top of a surgical-style mask). We recommend against wearing a cloth mask alone.

N95 respirators approved by CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) should not be used outside of healthcare settings because they should be reserved for healthcare personnel.

KN95 masks are a type of filtering facepiece respirator that are commonly made in China and similar to N95 masks commonly used in the United States. You may choose to wear a KN95 mask, but you should not wear a cloth mask over it.

Will the University provide face masks?

Free surgical-style masks are now available at entrances to University buildings staffed by public health screeners, residence hall entryways, on-campus testing sites, and at the rear entrance of GUTS buses. We encourage students and employees to take a surgical-style mask and put it on before entering any University building. Employees may also receive masks from their departments.

Can I wear two cloth masks?

Although wearing a cloth mask is better than going maskless, current research suggests that wearing a cloth mask is not as effective as wearing a surgical-style mask in reducing transmission and exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. Students and employees are not required to wear a particular type of mask, or to wear two masks. However, if you want to wear two masks, we recommend that you wear a cloth mask over a surgical-style mask.

How should I safely dispose of a surgical-style mask? 

You should dispose of your mask in a trash can when you are finished using it, and wash your hands.

What is the daily COVID-19 symptom check-in survey? Why am I required to report daily on my health?

All community members coming to campus are required to fill out the COVID-19 Daily Check-In survey through the GU360 mobile app or GU360 website to attest that they are symptom free at the beginning of each day they are on campus.

Georgetown will use information from this survey to provide health, quarantine and testing guidance to anyone with symptoms or who may have had an exposure to COVID-19.

Community members are expected to stay home or in their on-campus residence if they have any symptoms, call the Student Health Center (if a student) or their physician, schedule a COVID-19 test, and self-quarantine until cleared by their physician or after a consultation with the Care Navigator team.

How will Georgetown know if I complete the daily COVID-19 symptom check-in survey?

Georgetown will have access to the health assessment resulting from your COVID-19 Daily Check-in submission.

Are visitors allowed on campus?

Yes. To protect the health and safety of the Georgetown community, visitors to University-owned or operated buildings in Washington, DC, and Maryland must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or attest to having a medical or religious exemption.

Beginning Monday, October 25, visitors will need to follow the University’s protocol for verifying their vaccination status and complete a health attestation on the morning of their visit to attest that they are symptom-free. Visitors will also need to continue to comply with all other University public health guidelines, including wearing a mask indoors.

Please visit the Event and Visitor Guidelines page for more information about the visitor registration process, public health guidance for events, and reserving event space on our campuses.

What should I do if I have not received information from my host ahead of my visit to campus?

Please contact your host and ask them to send you an event/meeting-specific link to be used for your visit to campus.

How soon before my visit to campus can I complete this process?

You will be able to submit your vaccination documentation or attest to having a medical/religious exemption as soon as your campus host provides you with the link for your event/meeting. We encourage all visitors to complete this process as soon as possible once you receive a link from your host. You will not be able to complete the final step in the process (health symptom attestation, and an upload of a negative PCR test if you indicate an exemption) until the morning of your visit to campus.

Do I need to bring my vaccine documentation with me when visiting campus?

As long as you have successfully completed the process outlined in the Event and Visitor Guidelines, and receive an email confirming you are approved to visit campus, you do not need to carry your vaccination documentation with you. If you are unable to upload your vaccination documentation in advance of your visit, you will need to bring vaccination documentation to campus.

What should I do if I am hosting a multi-day event (i.e., two or more consecutive days) on campus with visitors?

Students, faculty or staff hosting a multi-day event in a University-owned or operated building may choose to create one event/meeting record for their event or separate event/meeting records for each session of their multi-day event. Visitors only need to submit a health attestation form (and, if required, negative PCR test results) once for a multi-day event. However, hosts should instruct visitors that they should stay home, not attend the rest of the event and notify their host if they develop symptoms at any time during a multi-day event.

What should I do if I have not been vaccinated and cannot attest to a medical or religious exemption for not receiving a COVID-19 vaccine?

Please discuss with your host alternative ways to complete your visit. This may include doing your visit via Zoom or delaying to a future point in time.

Who should I contact if I have any questions?

Please first contact your event host or campus point of contact. If you have technical questions about how to complete the visitor vaccination process, please contact visitors@georgetown.edu.

What does One Medical do with my personal data?

One Medical maintains your personally identifiable information in accordance with its Privacy Policy. It maintains your Protected Health Information (as defined by HIPAA) in accordance with its HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. Your Protected Health Information will only be shared by One Medical: with Georgetown with your express authorization; as needed to provide health care services to you (e.g. with testing laboratories) with your express authorization; or as otherwise permitted by law (e.g. reporting of positive test results to public health officials).

What information about me does One Medical share with Georgetown?

When signing up for the app, individuals must sign the consent form, which authorizes One Medical to release COVID-19 test results to Georgetown. (Please indicate that “Georgetown University” is the party to receive the information covered under the consent.) Consistent with your authorization, information shared by One Medical with Georgetown will include: 

• your name
• your date of birth
• testing administration information and date of testing, and 
• testing results.

What COVID-19 testing information is Georgetown required to report?

Under federal, state, and local law, Georgetown University is required to report your test results along with certain demographic information about you (age, race, ethnicity, sex) as Georgetown performs COVID-19 testing through its own laboratory. This information is reported by Georgetown to the appropriate local health authorities, such as DC Health, the Virginia Department of Health and the Maryland Department of Health, which are then responsible for reporting this information, in a way that doesn’t identify you individually, to the federal government. As federal and local health authorities maintain and use this information about you, they are required to maintain your privacy, except as permitted by law. Individual-level data is necessary for outbreak detection, rapid implementation of emergency measures, and identification of trends that require a strategic public health response.

What information would be reported to law enforcement officials or public health authorities by One Medical to “Protect public health and safety” or “Prevent or control disease, injury, or disability”? What would be reported in the event that an individual tested positive for COVID-19? 

Where One Medical has a legal obligation to report positive disease status to agencies or public officials, it would do so by reporting, as required to comply with the law. If individuals test positive for COVID-19, One Medical reports to public health agencies and officials, as required.

Does One Medical share my health information as it participates in health information exchanges?

One Medical would share your health information with HIEs only if you affirmatively opt in to such sharing.

For what purposes does One Medical share de-identified information? What steps are taken by One Medical to prevent re-identification of de-identified information?

One Medical may share de-identified information with partners or service providers for service provision, data analysis and reporting in connection with its business operations, for quality and value assessments, for service improvement, etc. It may share aggregated information, a type of de-identified information, externally for reporting purposes.

One Medical has safeguards around minimum population size for sharing de-identified and aggregated health information to protect against possible re-identification.

One Medical’s de-identification protocols and processes are compliant with the HIPAA requirements for de-identification (e.g., the Safe Harbor Rule or the Expert Determination Rule).

Does One Medical sell my information?

No. One Medical does not sell its patients’ information.

How can I opt out of arbitration as the means for resolving any dispute with One Medical? 

You may opt out of the arbitration clause in One Medical’s “Membership Terms of Service” (Section 12. Dispute Resolution) by sending an email, within 30 days of accepting the terms of service, indicating that you wish to opt-out of arbitration to terms@onemedical.com. The email must include your name and date of birth. Your opt-out request will be automatically logged by One Medical.

How can I control what functions (e.g., camera, audio, location, etc.) are enabled through the One Medical app?

The One Medical app allows you to control whether some functions that affect your privacy are enabled or disabled. It is your choice whether to enable the camera, microphone and location access. They are not required, but you may choose to use them for other app functionalities or One Medical services, such as Video Chat. 

One Medical Access to Microphone and Camera

iOS

(Note: Your device’s camera and microphone are disabled by default.)

1. Tap Settings.
2. Locate the One Medical app.
3. Check the sliders for Microphone and Camera to ensure that they are disabled.

Android

(Note: Your device’s camera and microphone are disabled by default.)

1. 1. Tap Settings on your phone and then select Apps.
   2. Tap All to display a full list of your apps.

• Scroll down to find the One Medical app and then tap on its listing.

1. Tap Permissions.
2. Make sure the sliders next to Camera and Microphone are moved so that they are disabled.

Setting One Medical App Access to Your Location

Setting Location Access from the One Medical App (iOS)

1. In the One Medical app, tap the Locations icon at the bottom right hand side of your screen. The first time you do this, you will see the following message:
2. Tap the desired option.

Setting Location Access from Your Phone (iOS)

1. Tap Settings.
2. In the ‘Settings’ screen, tap Privacy.
3. Tap on Location Services.
4. Tap on One Medical.
5. Tap on the desired option (Never, Ask Next Time, or While Using the App).

Setting Location Access from the One Medical App (Android)

1. In the One Medical app, tap on Locations. The first time you do this, you will see the following message:
2. Tap Allow or Deny.
3. If you selected Deny, you will see the following message the next time you access Locations:
4. Tap OK.
5. In the pop-up, tap Allow or Deny. (Note: If you tap Allow, you can always go back and disable location access in Settings.)

Set Location Access from Your Phone (Android)

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Apps.
3. Scroll to locate the One Medical app, and then tap on its listing.
4. In the next screen, tap on Permissions.
5. For Location, tap the slider so that it’s disabled.

Who will be required to self-quarantine or isolate?

Self-quarantine is required for students, faculty and staff on campus, and students living in the Neighborhoods, as directed by Georgetown or by the DC Department of Health or relevant state or local public health authorities, based on close contact with a COVID-19 infected person or person under investigation for possible COVID-19 infection, a physician or care provider’s recommendation, or other health and safety reasons.

Isolation is required for all individuals who have a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result or are otherwise symptomatic, under investigation for COVID-19, or diagnosed with COVID-19 by a health professional even if your test result is negative.

Visit the Quarantine and Isolation page for Georgetown’s policies and procedures for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation.

I’ve been vaccinated. If I leave the DMV area and return, do I need to follow the DC requirements to quarantine after travel?

The DC Department of Health updated its guidance to reflect that fully vaccinated people (i.e. at least 14 days past their final dose) do not need to do travel-related testing or self-quarantine after travel, as long as their travel occurs within 90 days of their final dose. Note that this does not affect the requirement to participate in routine testing protocol, which still applies to those who have been vaccinated.

I was exposed to somebody who tested positive for COVID-19 and live with a vulnerable family member. Do I need to quarantine? Do they need to quarantine? What should I do?

If you are unvaccinated, you should quarantine and avoid contact with your vulnerable household member, if at all possible.

If you are fully vaccinated, the evidence does not currently support quarantine for fully vaccinated people who were exposed.

Evidence-based recommendations also do not currently make quarantine recommendations for family members of exposed individuals who themselves were not exposed. Chances of transmission if the exposed individual was fully vaccinated and masked are low. 

For fully vaccinated people who are exposed and who live with vulnerable household members, while no quarantine is required, you may choose to take extra precautions, such as:

1. Get PCR tested 1-2 days after exposure. You can get tested on campus, at no cost to you.
2. Get PCR tested 4-5 days after exposure. If that test is negative, it’s likely you are not infected or infectious.
3. Consider wearing a mask around the vulnerable family member(s) until you have received this second negative result.

I am fully vaccinated, have no symptoms, but tested positive on a required test. Do I still have to go into isolation?

Georgetown must adhere to DC Department of Health guidance. Anyone who receives a positive PCR test, even if asymptomatic, must isolate for 10 days from the date of the positive test, in accordance with CDC recommendations and DC Department of Health guidelines. Please visit our Quarantine and Isolation page for more information about the University’s isolation protocols for students living on and off campus, and for faculty and staff.

I tested positive by PCR, got re-tested and received a negative subsequent test. Was the first test a false positive? Must I continue to isolate?

It is unlikely that your first test was a false positive. PCR tests are considered the gold standard of diagnostic COVID-19 tests, and the PCR test we use is very sensitive. When test results come back “positive,” this means that the test has detected genetic material from the virus that causes COVID-19, since the test is very specific to this particular virus.

Individuals may receive different test results for a variety of reasons, including taking different types of COVID-19 tests (e.g., PCR, antigen) and different methods of collection (i.e., nasal swab versus saliva test, or self-collection versus collection by a healthcare provider). Receiving different PCR test results on consecutive days can happen for different reasons and usually has to do with where you are in the infection cycle. PCR tests’ accuracy often depends on when someone is tested—early in the infection cycle or later in the infection cycle, the viral particles may be lower or even undetected.

Current guidance from the CDC and the DC Department of Health recommends that individuals who receive a positive PCR test, even if they are vaccinated, isolate for at least 10 days. Until the guidelines change, anyone who receives a positive PCR test, even if asymptomatic, and even if they receive a subsequent negative test, must complete isolation in accordance with CDC recommendations and DC Health guidelines.

How will the University handle contact tracing? 

Georgetown will collaborate with and support the District of Columbia contact tracing program to help identify, track, and manage contacts of COVID-19 patients within the University community. Community members are expected to collaborate with tracers to further public health.

I have unvaccinated or vulnerable family or household members. How can I protect them? 

If you consistently adhere to public health prevention measures, the risk of you transmitting the virus is low.

General guidance for protecting unvaccinated or vulnerable family members includes:

1. Get vaccinated yourself. 
2. Ensure everyone else in the household who can get vaccinated (>12 years old), does. 
3. Wear a well-fitting, high grade mask (e.g., surgical mask, KN95) whenever you are around others (indoors or outdoors), or double-mask (i.e., cloth mask over a surgical mask) in crowded settings (e.g., public transportation). 
4. If you want to eat or drink (and thus take the mask off), limit it to a setting/location where you can be alone or outside.
5. If you have symptoms, wear a mask around others, including family members, and get tested. You can get tested on campus, at no cost to you. You should quarantine and avoid contact with your vulnerable household member, if possible.
6. Even without symptoms, if you are concerned, get tested frequently. You can get tested on campus as often as you wish, at no cost to you.
7. Practice all other prevention measures consistently (e.g., hand washing, avoiding crowded settings, social distancing, etc.)
8. Modify your activities to participate only in those with the lowest risk (avoid gyms, indoor restaurants, etc.).

Should University community members get a seasonal influenza vaccination?

Georgetown encourages University community members to get the seasonal influenza vaccine. 

What happens if there is significant community transmission of COVID-19?

Georgetown’s plans for in-person activities on campus are subject to change based on campus, local, and national public health conditions and new guidance from local and federal authorities. Any updates will be communicated to the University community and will be posted on Georgetown’s COVID-19 Resource Center website.

Georgetown will monitor for cases of COVID-19 among the University community. Increased numbers of cases in the University community could trigger changes in University operations to help address the rise in cases, including increased education and mitigation activities.

How is Georgetown notifying community members of positive COVID-19 cases on or near campus?

Each Monday, the University updates the COVID-19 Dashboard and notifies the community of the prior week’s testing results of positive cases on and near campus through a public health alert. To receive the public health alert, subscribe to Daily COVID-19 Updates.

What is the university doing to improve air systems across campus?

Planning & Facilities Management is working to minimize the spread of viruses through the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, among other measures. Our ongoing HVAC assessment and enhancement program will ensure that all classrooms and study spaces meet CDC COVID-19 guidance and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for mitigation of virus transmission.

Working with a team of professional engineers and contractors, University personnel are evaluating, upgrading and monitoring the performance of the ventilation systems that provide temperature control and ventilation air that flushes contaminants from the classrooms, study rooms and common spaces within the University buildings. The work of this team ensured the University is: 

1. Identifying existing equipment condition and working to upgrade equipment operation and air filtration to meet the most current standards for space conditioning and contaminant control with each building;
2. Improving air filtration in all occupied buildings;
3. Working with the operation teams to improve and sustain the HVAC systems in every building across our Main, Med, and Law campuses;
4. Developing a monitoring and maintenance strategy to confirm continuing operation of building systems in compliance with current good engineering practices; and,
5. Establishing, based on current operating conditions in each building and each approved space, a maximum safe occupancy for that space that complies with the University program for re-occupying buildings.

Upgrades to the building ventilation systems include MERV-13 air filtration for occupied spaces, installation of ultraviolet decontamination systems and building air flushing strategies to reduce airborne transmission.

Should I be concerned about a higher risk of infection if I cannot open the windows or do not have windows in my classroom?

No, you should not. Using the HVAC systems to provide proper ventilation and filtration is a much more reliable method for minimizing the spread of airborne diseases, while ensuring a comfortable environment for occupants.

Reliance on open windows to provide adequate ventilation within a space is not practical given the Washington, DC climate. Opening windows during non-ideal weather conditions can lead to a loss of temperature and/or humidity control within the space, which can have a negative effect on overall indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Using the HVAC systems to provide proper ventilation and filtration is a much more reliable method for minimizing the spread of airborne diseases, while ensuring a comfortable environment for occupants.

Can COVID-19 be transmitted through the HVAC systems?

Per CDC COVID-19 guidance, the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 through HVAC systems is thought to be relatively low, however, the exact risk is not well-known at this time. The CDC recommends the use of a layered strategy to reduce exposure, which includes increased filtration, adequate ventilation, the use of masks and proper hand hygiene.

What factors does Georgetown University consider when making decisions about its COVID-19 policies?

Georgetown University takes many factors into consideration before any COVID-19 policies are made or changed. Our Public Health team regularly monitors multiple sources of data that inform any recommendations. These data sources include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance,
• DC Department of Health guidance,
• Local government mandates and school closures,
• Medical literature and scientific publications,
•  Community transmission in the DC area,
•  University test positivity rate,
•  Parameters related to the University’s status as a “congregate setting,” where transmissibility is enhanced due to the nature of congregate living,
• Vaccination status/efficacy (i.e., rates of vaccinations in the community and scientific data about the vaccines’ efficacy and/or waning immunity),
• Variant characteristics (e.g., transmissibility, infectiousness, and disease characteristics of new variants),
• Behaviors associated with positive cases determined through contact tracing (e.g., social gatherings, non-masked situations, travel, and frequently visited sites), and
• At-risk groups (e.g., the number of unvaccinated individuals, older community members, and medically vulnerable community members).

What is the operating status of GUTS?

Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) will operate at full capacity, as of August 2, 2021. As has been the practice during the pandemic, passengers will continue to enter and exit via the rear of the shuttle. Individuals using GUTS, regardless of vaccination status, will need to wear a mask while on the shuttle. For more information on routes and schedules, please visit the GUTS website.

What is the operating status of campus dining services?

Main Campus food establishments will be open at full capacity no later than August 25, unless otherwise noted at the establishment. At the Law Center, Legal Eats will open on August 17, and other food operations will open on August 23. For information on hours of operation on the Main Campus, please visit the Hoya Hospitality website.

Has the University received funding under any federal COVID relief legislation?

Yes – please visit the University’s CARES Act, CRRSAA and ARP overview pages for more information.

How can I help community members affected by COVID-19?

There are two easy ways to make a gift to support the COVID-19 Response and Resilience Fund.

Make your gift online at give.georgetown.edu. On this page you will find the option to give to either the COVID-19 Response and Resilience Fund or to student financial aid.

Make your gift by mailing a check to the address below and include “COVID-19 Response and Resilience Fund” in the Memo field of your check:

Georgetown University

Office of Gift Administration

Department 0734

Washington, DC 20073-0734Please visit our How to Help page for more information about how to support members of the Georgetown community affected by COVID-19.

What protocols should Main Campus and Medical Center faculty know for Fall 2021 classes?

Please see this message about Fall 2021 classes for more information.

What is the policy on the Main Campus for students requesting to learn or work remotely for the Fall 2021 semester?

Please see the Policy on Students Requesting to Learn and Work Remotely – Fall 2021 for more information.