Dear Graduate Students,
The University is experiencing a rise in COVID cases, with 87 active student cases and 9 active employee cases as of noon today. Yesterday, 35 students tested positive, which is the highest we have seen in a single day through the pandemic.
We are implementing these steps as we work to bring the Spring 2022 semester to a good conclusion.
Final Exams/Grad Classes to Move Online
Effective Saturday, May 7, the remaining final exams and grad classes for the semester will move online with a few exceptions where faculty are not able to do so.
Masking Required in Classrooms and Labs
If exams must be offered in person, masks are required for everyone in the classroom, lab, or exam room effective Saturday, May 7. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, you should not attend any exams in person.
Masking Strongly Encouraged at Indoor Events
Masking remains optional for all members of our community. With several larger events in these days leading up to Commencement, however, we strongly encourage you to consider masking, especially in certain settings. Our community’s health is paramount; please make decisions to support you and those around you as we work to bring this semester to a successful close.
Monitor Your Symptoms
You should report any COVID-19 symptoms or positive COVID test results to
Student Health Services.
If You Are Identified As a Close Contact
Close contacts must mask at all times, indoors and outdoors, except while eating and sleeping, and follow CDC guidance—and instructions from Student Health Services—on when to test. All students are required to participate and respond to Loyola’s contact tracing vendor.
Conclusion
We want to remind all members of our community to be vigilant and make good decisions. We are seeing an uptick in cases not just at Loyola but throughout the area. We will update the dashboard each business day through Saturday, May 14, to keep our community informed, and we will be in touch via email if there is any additional information to communicate.
Please continue to make safe and healthy decisions for yourself and our community.
Sincerely,
The Rapid Response Team