Returning and Reconnecting

A Message from the COVID-19 Coordinator                                                                  

Summary:

  • Reconnecting back on campus: reminders of policies and resources
  • Important COVID-19 vaccine updates: especially with regard to pregnancy
  • Flu shots: schedule yours soon

Dear Members of the Yale Community,

Next week, many staff members who have been working remotely begin their return to campus. This time of transition will call for patience and flexibility, as those who are returning to campus familiarize themselves with new policies and procedures and those who have been on campus get used to a busier environment.

What do I need to know about the return to campus?

Whether you are coming back to campus for the first time after working remotely or you have been on campus and will be seeing more of your colleagues and peers as they return, this time can be both exciting and stressful. While many of us welcome the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, to experience the energy of campus, and to explore new buildings and outdoor spaces, we may also feel anxious about interacting with other people more frequently and uncertain about the health and safety guidelines we all must follow. The information below may help you address these questions and concerns.

What health and safety guidelines must I follow?

Everyone on campus must follow the university’s health and safety guidelines. Key guidelines include:

  • All members of the Yale community are required to comply with Yale’s Vaccination Program.
  • Masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, indoors in shared spaces; masks may be removed when you are alone in a segregated space, such as in an office or cubicle.
  • Yale IDs are required to enter campus buildings.
  • Visitors to campus are restricted, and all visits require prior authorization and documentation of visitors’ vaccinations.
  • Events, meetings, and gatherings must adhere to health and safety protocols and those, other than classes, with more than 20 attendees indoors or 50 outdoors require additional approval.
  • Preventative measures, such as avoiding crowds and frequent hand washing, are advised to help reduce transmission not only of COVID-19 but of other respiratory illnesses that are prevalent now.
  • All members of the Yale community are expected to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, and, if they experience them, stay home, seek medical advice, and get tested.

Where can I get help and find more information?

In addition to your immediate supervisor, many resources are available to answer questions and provide guidance:

  • The Campus COVID Resource Line (CCRL) is staffed by healthcare professionals who can answer a broad array of COVID-19 related questions and connect Yale community members to resources. Since the CCRL was established in January 2020, this team has responded to more than 100,000 calls. You may contact them at 203-432-6604, 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • The Yale University COVID-19 website provides important updates and information on campus policies, health and safety guidelines, and other relevant resources.
  • The Health and Safety Leaders (HSLs) oversee health and safety plans specific to each school and unit in the university. HSLs can provide you with information about the health and safety measures in your school or unit and can assist you in planning safer activities.
  • Yale Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) provides practical guidance for maintaining healthy and safe campus spaces. Your EHS Safety Advisor can answer questions about your workplace conditions.
  • COVID-19 testing is easy, free, and readily available to all members of the Yale community.
  • The It’s Your Yale website provides COVID-19 workplace guidance and information.

Caring for yourself and your family is extremely important, especially during times of transition. Many university wellness and family care resources are available to provide support and help you navigate personal challenges.

Any important vaccine updates?

In my message last week, I provided updated information about COVID-19 booster shots. Additional information about boosters is available here.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an urgent health advisory recommending COVID-19 vaccination for those who are pregnant, were recently pregnant, are trying to become pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future in order to prevent serious COVID-19 related illness, death, or adverse pregnancy outcomes. According to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, “Pregnancy can be both a special time and also a stressful time—and pregnancy during a pandemic is an added concern for families. I strongly encourage those who are pregnant or considering pregnancy to talk with their healthcare provider about the protective benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine to keep their babies and themselves safe.”

Where can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu?

The Yale COVID-19 vaccine clinic has relocated to 310 Winchester Avenue and is providing primary vaccine series and booster shots to Yale community members. Appointments are required, and you may use the scheduling portal or call the CCRL at 203-432-6604 to make your appointment. Vaccination appointments are also available through other vaccine providers across the state, including Yale New Haven Health.

With flu season approaching, it is a good time to schedule your annual flu shot. Yale Health makes flu shots available to all members of our community, regardless of Yale Health enrollment, through the Find Your Flu Shot Tool (Yale NetID and password required). As a reminder, flu vaccination is required for students as part of the Community Compact and for our healthcare workers.

As more and more of us gather on campus, we will once again experience the richness and complexity of in-person interactions. Working together and treating each other—and ourselves—with patience, respect, and kindness, we will make this next phase of returning to campus positive and rewarding for all.

Stephanie S. Spangler, M.D.
Vice Provost for Health Affairs and Academic Integrity
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
University COVID-19 Coordinator

Summary:

  • Reconnecting back on campus: reminders of policies and resources
  • Important COVID-19 vaccine updates: especially with regard to pregnancy
  • Flu shots: schedule yours soon

Dear Members of the Yale Community,

Next week, many staff members who have been working remotely begin their return to campus. This time of transition will call for patience and flexibility, as those who are returning to campus familiarize themselves with new policies and procedures and those who have been on campus get used to a busier environment.

What do I need to know about the return to campus?

Whether you are coming back to campus for the first time after working remotely or you have been on campus and will be seeing more of your colleagues and peers as they return, this time can be both exciting and stressful. While many of us welcome the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, to experience the energy of campus, and to explore new buildings and outdoor spaces, we may also feel anxious about interacting with other people more frequently and uncertain about the health and safety guidelines we all must follow. The information below may help you address these questions and concerns.

What health and safety guidelines must I follow?

Everyone on campus must follow the university’s health and safety guidelines. Key guidelines include:

  • All members of the Yale community are required to comply with Yale’s Vaccination Program.
  • Masks are required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, indoors in shared spaces; masks may be removed when you are alone in a segregated space, such as in an office or cubicle.
  • Yale IDs are required to enter campus buildings.
  • Visitors to campus are restricted, and all visits require prior authorization and documentation of visitors’ vaccinations.
  • Events, meetings, and gatherings must adhere to health and safety protocols and those, other than classes, with more than 20 attendees indoors or 50 outdoors require additional approval.
  • Preventative measures, such as avoiding crowds and frequent hand washing, are advised to help reduce transmission not only of COVID-19 but of other respiratory illnesses that are prevalent now.
  • All members of the Yale community are expected to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, and, if they experience them, stay home, seek medical advice, and get tested.

Where can I get help and find more information?

In addition to your immediate supervisor, many resources are available to answer questions and provide guidance:

  • The Campus COVID Resource Line (CCRL) is staffed by healthcare professionals who can answer a broad array of COVID-19 related questions and connect Yale community members to resources. Since the CCRL was established in January 2020, this team has responded to more than 100,000 calls. You may contact them at 203-432-6604, 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • The Yale University COVID-19 website provides important updates and information on campus policies, health and safety guidelines, and other relevant resources.
  • The Health and Safety Leaders (HSLs) oversee health and safety plans specific to each school and unit in the university. HSLs can provide you with information about the health and safety measures in your school or unit and can assist you in planning safer activities.
  • Yale Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) provides practical guidance for maintaining healthy and safe campus spaces. Your EHS Safety Advisor can answer questions about your workplace conditions.
  • COVID-19 testing is easy, free, and readily available to all members of the Yale community.
  • The It’s Your Yale website provides COVID-19 workplace guidance and information.

Caring for yourself and your family is extremely important, especially during times of transition. Many university wellness and family care resources are available to provide support and help you navigate personal challenges.

Any important vaccine updates?

In my message last week, I provided updated information about COVID-19 booster shots. Additional information about boosters is available here.

On Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an urgent health advisory recommending COVID-19 vaccination for those who are pregnant, were recently pregnant, are trying to become pregnant now, or might become pregnant in the future in order to prevent serious COVID-19 related illness, death, or adverse pregnancy outcomes. According to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, “Pregnancy can be both a special time and also a stressful time—and pregnancy during a pandemic is an added concern for families. I strongly encourage those who are pregnant or considering pregnancy to talk with their healthcare provider about the protective benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine to keep their babies and themselves safe.”

Where can I get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu?

The Yale COVID-19 vaccine clinic has relocated to 310 Winchester Avenue and is providing primary vaccine series and booster shots to Yale community members. Appointments are required, and you may use the scheduling portal or call the CCRL at 203-432-6604 to make your appointment. Vaccination appointments are also available through other vaccine providers across the state, including Yale New Haven Health.

With flu season approaching, it is a good time to schedule your annual flu shot. Yale Health makes flu shots available to all members of our community, regardless of Yale Health enrollment, through the Find Your Flu Shot Tool (Yale NetID and password required). As a reminder, flu vaccination is required for students as part of the Community Compact and for our healthcare workers.

As more and more of us gather on campus, we will once again experience the richness and complexity of in-person interactions. Working together and treating each other—and ourselves—with patience, respect, and kindness, we will make this next phase of returning to campus positive and rewarding for all.

Stephanie S. Spangler, M.D.
Vice Provost for Health Affairs and Academic Integrity
Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
University COVID-19 Coordinator