Public Health Update – March 11, 2021

Date: March 11, 2021

From: Tom McLarney, MD

Subject: Public Health Update – March 11, 2021

To the Wesleyan Community,

Things are looking up! As we enter into the spring, we should see greater production, distribution, and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. I am cautiously optimistic that by the summer, anyone who desires the vaccine will have the opportunity to receive it. Learn more about the State of Connecticut’s vaccination phases.

In light of the low positivity rate on campus as well as in Middletown, Wesleyan is cautiously easing some restrictions. As Dean Rick Culliton said in his March 9 memo, the University is planning for a limited schedule of outdoor spring sports, if pandemic conditions remain stable. With safety foremost in mind, the athletic department will be conducting additional pre-competition antigen testing of athletes and coaches. There will be no overnight stays, no outside spectators, and the travel radius will be limited. Moreover, if athletes and coaches test positive prior to a competition, that event will be cancelled. Athletes, like all students, will continue to adhere to the twice-weekly campus testing requirement. Visit Athletics to review the complete list of protocols.

While competitive play will not begin until April, we anticipate allowing for greater visitation between residence halls in the next week or so. The Student Activities office is in conversation with other student groups about activities that can be conducted safely over the coming weeks. If conditions remain favorable, we can use the safety precautions described above for various organized student activities.

We must continue our vigilance with our twice-weekly testing, constant wearing of face coverings, and maintaining of social distance, particularly given that some experts predict a fourth wave as some states reopen and forgo some COVID safety precautions. Thus far, our positivity levels have remained low, which is in large part due to the cooperation of our students.

Our cautious progression into spring has paid off. Let’s keep it up! Thank you!!

Tom McLarney, MD