By Chelsea Zhao
Staff Writer
The start of spring 2022 semester sees a consistent reinforcement of COVID-19 guidelines and encouragement for booster shots.
According to Elizabeth Ritzman, Director of Wellness Center, DU does not require documentation of the booster shot yet. Even though residents do not need to submit a negative COVID test result, DU requires all residents to get the PCR COVID-19 test the first week after they move in.
Dining hall and Cyber Café have also changed to grab-and-go only option for January. The seating in dining hall is limited to 2 – 3 people per table.
As of the week of Jan. 14 to 20, the COVID dashboard shows a total of 42 active cases. Norah Collins Pienta, Dean of students, said the majority of the cases, including the total of 53 from last week (Jan. 7 – 13), are reported from community members returning from the winter break.
As of Spring 2022, the Incident Management Assessment Team (IMAT) moved all the quarantine and isolation rooms from Priory Campus to Murray and Mazzuchelli residential halls.
Ritzman advises students to wear N95 masks for better protection against potential exposure. Because a person cannot get tested again after 90 days for a reliable result, they can return to campus on day 6 after they were tested positive.
Dominican University currently partners with Cook County Department of Health to offer vaccines to the community.
Pienta said the university strongly recommends students to get their booster shots if they are eligible.
According to Ritzman, the Jan. 6 vaccination clinic saw a total of 39 students, staff and faculty. The next vaccine clinic is on Thursday, Jan. 27 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in Springer Suites. The available vaccines are: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson first and second doses, booster, and Pfizer pediatric doses.
Those who are getting the vaccine are required to bring a photo ID and the insurance card if they have one.
Pienta said DU has a limited supply of masks at the welcome and information desk. She recommends students to wear well-fitting masks when they are not actively eating, consistent sanitization, and encourages “peer-to-peer” mandate reinforcements.
“I think it’s important that students feel empowered to do that and hold each other accountable, whether that’s in the resident’s hall, reminding folks, even though if they are just going to the bathroom, you got to have your masks on” Pienta said.
Looking forward, Pienta said that DU will continue to evaluate the current state, especially after breaks. The university plans to identify pockets of students and do surveillance testing.
“We really want to be able to make sure we can keep our courses running, and the modality they are set for, especially those hybrid and in-person courses and keeping our resident’s halls open” Pienta said. “We need people to be healthy.”
