Spring 2022 COVID Protocols and Isolation & Quarantine Updates
We look forward to welcoming you back to campus for the Spring 2022 semester. You received a University-wide message about safety protocols for your return to campus and COVID safety reminders. Please review this message carefully and put together an isolation and quarantine plan with your family before returning to campus.
As a reminder, first-year residence hall move-in begins Friday, Jan. 14. If you are planning to return to campus and have signs or symptoms of COVID-19, we ask that you stay home. If you test positive for COVID-19, do not return to campus during move-in and isolate until you have been cleared by VCU Student Health. In our efforts to combat the new variant of COVID-19 we are highly encouraging residents to go home if they begin feeling sick or are confirmed positive, except for in cases where public transportation would be required for travel.
Here are things to keep in mind as you prepare your isolation and quarantine plan:
- As COVID-19 and it’s variants continue to evolve and change, prepare to remain flexible as COVID protocols and safety measures are subject to change.
- Students that become sick after returning to campus are encouraged to return home.
- Residential Life and Housing has limited on-campus quarantine and isolation spaces and we have adopted several other isolation and quarantine strategies referenced later in this message.
- Bring cleaning supplies with you to the residence hall and clean your space regularly. Residents are encouraged to spray and wipe down all high touch surfaces (door knobs, faucets, light switches) with disinfectant spray after use.
- If you have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 please do not return to campus until you have been cleared by VCU Student Health.
- Continue to monitor together.vcu.edu for the most up-to-date COVID safety information and guidance from VCU.
- You must follow the guidance provided by Student Health and the Isolation and Quarantine support team.
We plan to continue our quarantine and isolation protocols in which GRC III will remain open for isolation housing for residents that live in shared rooms or suites. We recognize that isolation and quarantine space might become limited, and have developed a quarantine and isolation “in-place” model for residents who live in a single-bedroom apartment (Ackell, Broad & Belvidere, Cary & Belvidere, Grace & Broad, singles in West Grace North and West Grace South, Johnson residents relocated to 8 1/2 canal and 1200 West Marshall) or a single room with a bathroom in-room (The Honors College). This would require residents who reside in one of these spaces that are symptomatic, confirmed positive, or a confirmed contact, to quarantine or isolate ”in-place” in their assigned residence hall bedroom.
Students that live in a shared bedroom (GRC, Brandt, Rhoads, Johnson residents relocated to Capital Garage, doubles in West Grace North and West Grace South) will be moved to isolation housing as they become symptomatic or test positive. In the event that isolation and quarantine space becomes unavailable, we will transition to an isolation and quarantine “in-place” model for residents in shared bedrooms and may create a shared housing cohort for positive cases within our isolation hall. Please check out our Resident Planning Guide For Isolation And Quarantine for important updates and responses to questions about the quarantine and isolation process in the residence halls.
All residents must follow VCU’s protocols for COVID-19, including the following:
- Everyone who is eligible for a booster must report receiving one to VCU by Feb. 1. Those eligible for a booster after Feb. 1 must receive a booster within 30 days of becoming eligible and report receiving it to VCU. If you are eligible for a booster and have not yet received one, please plan your appointment soon. To find an appointment near you, visit vaccinate.virginia.gov. Students can begin reporting boosters through the VCU Student Health Services web portal. For information about how to report your vaccination and/or booster to VCU, visit together.vcu.edu/faq/student-vaccine/.
- Report symptoms associated with COVID-19 immediately to VCU Student Health Services via the COVID-19 Hotline (804-692-6843)
- Wear a face covering or mask in indoor common areas (anything outside your apartment/suite door)
- We indicated that we would review and provide an update regarding the guest policy by February. At this time, residents will continue to have access to their assigned residence hall, as well as guest access to additional residence halls. Consistent with the university’s health and safety protocols designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, non-residential students and non-affiliated guests will still be prohibited from visiting the residence halls during the spring 2022 semester. Any necessary updates to the current guest policy will be shared with you directly via email.
Thank you for your continued attention to safety throughout this pandemic, which has been a longer journey than any of us anticipated. We appreciate your awareness of these important safety measures, and thank you for your constant commitment to the safety of you and your fellow residential Rams.
Categories Spring 2022