COVID-19 safety regulations still in effect as winter term begins

The University of Oregon has implemented several strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the greatest extent possible. These strategies include requiring faculty, staff and students to wear a face covering, watch their distance, stay home if they have symptoms and wash their hands often.

Face coverings are required across all UO locations and at all times, except for indoors when alone in an enclosed room. Masks are required when in outdoor public spaces on campus regardless of whether six feet of distance can be maintained between people. Face shields can be worn in addition to a mask, but not in place of a mask.

Employees and students are required to perform a symptom self-check prior to coming to campus. They should not come to campus if COVID-19 symptoms are present or they feel sick. Similarly, they should leave campus right away if symptoms develop or they begin to feel sick.

Everyone in the UO community is encouraged to get tested regularly for COVID-19 through the UO’s Monitoring and Assessment Program. Many people are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. If you are asymptomatic, you can prevent further spread of the virus to your family, friends and others in the community by identifying the virus, isolating and cooperating with contact tracers. Also, participating in MAP testing helps the UO develop strategies that local officials and university leaders can enact to suppress the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

Pre-registration for MAP testing is available on the UO coronavirus website. Testing during the week of Jan. 4 is focused on UO students only. Community testing will resume the week of Jan. 11.

The university follows guidance from the Oregon Health Authority, Lane County Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when setting workplace safety precautions and implementing UO safety regulations. These regulations will be amended if regulatory conditions change or guidance from health authorities evolves.

The Office of Human Resources provides guidance for supervisors as they implement and reinforce the safety regulations within their teams. It outlines what supervisors need to know and how to respond when they encounter situations that require action. The HR guidance includes what employees can do to contribute to UO prevention efforts and shares suggestions for responding should an employee encounter someone on campus without a mask or standing too close.

Visit the UO coronavirus website for the latest information regarding the university’s response to COVID-19 and additional resources.