In the continual review of the University’s COVID-19 testing program, the University has revised its employee testing requirements. Effective immediately, employees who have received at least one dose of an approved COVID vaccine (including the single dose Johnson & Johnson or the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines) will no longer be required to receive a weekly COVID test prior to becoming fully vaccinated.
Research continues to underscore that vaccine efficacy increases significantly between the first and second doses of two-dose vaccines. All employees are expected to continue to follow current health and safety protocols, including completing Dr. Chat Bot daily and masking indoors.
This removal of the weekly testing requirement for employees who have received one dose will improve testing efficiency for the community while continuing to make safety a priority for faculty, staff, students, and patients, and focus our testing resources where they are most needed.
As a reminder, the University still requires all employees to be fully vaccinated by November 15, unless they obtain an approved exemption. Employees who have received an exemption must continue to be tested weekly as directed to comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccine policies (#164 and #165).
For more information, explore frequently asked questions about COVID-19 testing.