Messages to Faculty, Messages to Staff, Messages to Students, Messages to the Community

Public Health Guidance for Fall 2022 (Main & Medical Campuses)

July 22, 2022

Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,

As we prepare for the new academic year, we are writing to share updated public health guidance for the Main and Medical Center campuses.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

Georgetown requires students, faculty, staff and visitors to have received a primary series (e.g., two doses of an mRNA vaccine) and, when eligible, an additional dose (first booster) of a COVID-19 vaccine, or to have an approved medical or religious exemption.

We strongly recommend, but do not require at this time, that individuals who are 50 years and older or who are moderately or severely immunocompromised get a second additional dose (second booster).

COVID-19 Testing

Return-to-Campus Testing
    • All students will need to take a COVID-19 test between 48 hours before and 24 hours after arriving on campus. Failure to get a return-to-campus test may result in disciplinary action.
      • Residential students: A PCR test is required.
      • Non-residential students: A PCR test is preferred, but an antigen test will be accepted.
      • We recommend getting tested after traveling or arriving in the DC region, but it’s required when you come to campus for the first time.
      • Students who test positive within a few days prior to coming to campus should delay their arrival until they have completed a full isolation period following DC and University guidance, regardless of the isolation rules where they live. Students should report their positive result, and a Care Navigator from Georgetown’s Public Health team will provide tailored guidance.
      • Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days should not take a return-to-campus test (and should report their previous positive result if the University does not already have a record of it). However, if new symptoms develop, please inform the Public Health team and follow their guidance.
      • Students who have been on campus continuously during the summer should get tested in August (PCR required for residential students; PCR or antigen accepted for non-residential students). 
      • Please submit a photo of test results from external PCR tests (i.e., when not taken through One Medical on campus) and antigen tests via the COVID-19 Test Result Submission Form in the GU360 mobile app or on the GU360 website.
  • Faculty and staff are not required to take a return-to-campus test, but testing is strongly recommended, especially after travel.
Ongoing Testing
  • You must get tested once per week if:
    • You are exempt from vaccination for religious or medical reasons, or
    • You received the primary vaccination series and are booster-eligible but have received an exemption or deadline extension from the booster shot requirement.
  • After return-to-campus testing, other students, faculty and staff are not required to test regularly unless they develop symptoms or are exposed or potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19.

The University is planning to use wastewater surveillance testing to help assess public health conditions on campus.

Masks

Masks are still required in indoor instructional settings, such as classrooms and teaching laboratories, on the Main and Medical Center campuses. This applies to organized classes, but not to informal gatherings (e.g., in libraries, study spaces).

We recommend wearing a properly-fitted, high-quality mask (e.g., N95, KN95, KF94). Individuals cannot wear a cloth mask, or a mask with a vent or valve, because these masks do not sufficiently reduce the transmission of the virus from exhaled droplets and aerosol particles that might contain the virus.

Wearing a mask is currently optional in most other indoor settings in University-owned or operated buildings, including libraries, research laboratories, offices, dining facilities, residential buildings, and fitness centers, with the limited exceptions noted below:

  1. Individuals must wear a mask while on university-sponsored public transportation (e.g., GUTS buses, shuttles, vans).
  2. Individuals must wear a mask in University health care facilities (e.g., Student Health Center, CAPS, One Medical testing sites).
  3. Individuals in, or recently released from, quarantine or isolation must wear a mask for the full 10 days from the date of exposure or infection, consistent with DC Health guidance and CDC guidance.
  4. Individuals with exemptions or accommodation plans that include enhanced public health measures should continue to abide by those measures, as currently in place.

Everyone has the right to wear a mask whenever and wherever they wish on our campuses, and anyone may request – but not require – that those around them or interacting with them wear a mask.

Free high-quality masks will continue to be available at the entrances to most campus buildings.

Symptom Monitoring

When experiencing any symptoms, students, faculty and staff should:

  1. stay home or in their on-campus residence; 
  2. complete the COVID-19 Symptom Check-In survey through the GU360 mobile app or website; 
  3. call the Student Health Center (if a student) or their health care provider, if needed; 
  4. schedule a COVID-19 test; and 
  5. not return to class or work until cleared by their health care provider or after a consultation with the Care Navigation team.

Students, faculty and staff should also complete the COVID-19 Symptom Check-In survey if they develop any symptoms and upon exposure to a known COVID-19 case.

Quarantine and Isolation

Please review the University’s quarantine and isolation guidelines. Individuals who test positive will receive guidance from Georgetown’s Care Navigation team. Residential students may need to isolate in their room if they test positive.

Visitors

Visitors to University-owned, operated or leased buildings need to comply with the University’s visitor vaccination requirement and process.

Visitors are not permitted in residential buildings. However, parents and family members may enter residential buildings to assist with move-in. They do not need to follow the University’s visitor registration process but should wear a mask while inside residential buildings.

Visitors and external community members are not permitted in Main Campus and Medical Center libraries and recreational facilities at this time, but we intend to expand access soon and will provide additional information in the coming weeks.

Events

Please review the University’s public health guidance for events and share information about your event with the Public Health team so they can provide additional tailored guidance.

With the increased transmissibility of the latest Omicron subvariants, it is important that we continue to take steps to protect ourselves and one another. We are monitoring public health conditions on campus and in the local region, as well as any new guidance from the CDC and the DC Department of Health, and will provide updates when needed.

Thank you for your continued care for our community, and we look forward to welcoming you back to campus in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Groves
Provost

Edward B. Healton
Executive Vice President for Health Sciences

David Green
Interim Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Ranit Mishori, M.D., MHS, FAAFP
Professor of Family Medicine, Vice President and Chief Public Health Officer

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