Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations. As of this week, the University is suspending weekly Five Things emails: it will be published on an as-needed basis through the summer.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 67 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• The COVID-19 Alert Level in New York City is MEDIUM: See the New York City Department of Health website which outlines the appropriate precautions for each alert level.
• Commencement Vaccination Requirements: The University requires all visitors to campus (ages 5 and older) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. One booster shot is required for all guests who are eligible. Please review the COVID-19 vaccination policy for more information.
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year. It may be necessary to require a second booster shot for eligible individuals beginning in September 2022.
• Testing and Vaccinations at Lincoln Center are now being administered in South Lounge.

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 120 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• Local Neighborhood COVID-19 Cases: Hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 are flat or down (on-campus cases have been asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic):
• Lincoln Center

• Rose Hill

• Commencement Vaccination Requirements: The University requires all visitors to campus (ages 5 and older) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. One booster shot is required for all guests who are eligible. Please review the COVID-19 vaccination policy for more information.
• Pandemic Status: Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, declared the U.S. “out of the pandemic phase” on Tuesday, and reinforced the need for vaccination against COVID-19.
• Infection-Acquired Immunity Versus Vaccination: The CDC has said that getting a COVID-19 vaccination is a safer and more dependable way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19. “For people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.” See the CDC’s Myths and Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines webpage.
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year. It may be necessary to require a second booster shot for eligible individuals beginning in September 2022.

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 45 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• Booster Effectiveness: Vaccines and boosters are up to 68% effective against hospitalization from reinfection among individuals who previously had COVID-19, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study shows (via USA Today). “To prevent COVID-19–associated hospitalization, all eligible persons should stay up to date with vaccination, including those with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection,” the CDC says in the study.
• Masking on Public Transportation: Though a federal judge has struck down the CDC requirement that all airline passengers remain masked while on board the aircraft, the University strongly recommends that members of the campus community continue to wear masks on all forms of public transportation.
• Return-to-Campus Testing: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19 test results no later than April 27, regardless of whether or not they traveled during the break. The test must be a FDA EUA authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test, not an antigen or antibody test, and it must be performed no more than 5 days after their return to campus. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days (on or after January 30) do not need to have a new test. (Employees who have traveled out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year. It may be necessary to require a second booster shot for eligible individuals beginning in September 2022.

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 88 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• Mask Policy: The University is aware that some institutions have begun to require masks in some indoor spaces again. Fordham’s policy continues to be that masks are recommended but not required in classrooms, labs, work settings, and public spaces for individuals fully up-to-date† on vaccinations. The University is monitoring case rates, locally and more broadly, and will adjustment the mask policy as circumstances require.
• Classroom and Laboratory Masking: Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if in their judgement, circumstances warrant. Masks are Still Required for:
  • Unvaccinated individuals with a vaccine exemption;
  • All individuals on Ram Vans and in University Health Service locations (offices, and testing and vaccination sites).
• Return-to-Campus Testing: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19 test results no later than April 27, regardless of whether or not they traveled during the break. The test must be a FDA EUA authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test, not an antigen or antibody test, and it must be performed no more than 5 days after their return to campus. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days (on or after January 30) do not need to have a new test. (Employees who have traveled out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year. It may be necessary to require a second booster shot for eligible individuals beginning in September 2022.

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 74 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• New Booster Guidance: On March 30, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance to allow the following groups to receive a second mRNA booster dose at least 4 months after their first booster dose:
  • People ages 50 years and older;
  • People ages 12 to 49 years who are moderately or severely immunocompromised;
  • People ages 18 years and older who received a primary and booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine may receive one mRNA booster dose at least 4 months after their first booster dose.
• On-Campus Vaccinations and Boosters: The University provides on-campus COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to students, faculty, and staff at no charge. We recommend that eligible individuals consider receiving a second booster.
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year. It may be necessary to require a second booster shot for eligible individuals beginning in September 2022.
• How the CDC Monitors and Tracks COVID-19: The CDC has a page devoted to its methods of measuring and combating the spread of COVID-19, and a glossary of terms commonly used to discuss the disease and its spread. You can find that page here.

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 26 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• CDC Study on Vaccine Effectiveness: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study on March 18 showing that, “among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 during the Delta and Omicron waves, those who received two or three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine had 90–95% less risk of dying or needing a ventilator compared with adults who were not vaccinated. Protection was highest in adults who received a third COVID-19 vaccine dose.”
• COVID-19 Variant Omicron BA.2: A third of U.S. COVID-19 cases are now caused by the Omicron BA.2 variant, which is widespread in the UK and elsewhere. According to Reuters, public health officials have said they don’t believe another surge of infections is coming, but cases in the United States generally lag several weeks behind the UK.
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year.
• Wednesday, March 30, is the Deadline for Return to Campus Testing for Students: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19  FDA/EUA-authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test results no later than March 30 regardless of whether or not they traveled during the break. (Employees who have traveled out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Dear Members of the Campus Community:

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 25 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• Fordham Vaccine Mandate: The University will continue to require all on-campus students, faculty, and staff to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations for the 2022-2023 academic year.
• Fordham University Commencement: The main Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21, and diploma ceremonies, will be open to students and their families (as well as faculty and staff). These events require all guests (including family members) to be fully up-to-date† on vaccinations. Any individual entering campus must show proof of up-to-date vaccinations: there will be no COVID-19 test option.
• New COVID-19 Variants in Europe and the UK: The University is carefully monitoring the incidence of COVID-19 variants overseas, both for the safety of Fordham personnel abroad, and for planning purposes here in New York City.
• Spring Break Return to Campus Requirements: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19 test results no later than March 30 regardless of whether or not they traveled during the break. The test must be a FDA EUA authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test, not an antigen or antibody test, and it must be performed no earlier than 3 days prior to their return to campus and no more than 5 days after. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you do not need to have a new test. (Employees who have traveled out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 46 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• Spring Break Return to Campus Requirements: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19 test results no later than March 30 regardless of whether or not they traveled during the break. The test must be a FDA EUA authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test, not an antigen or antibody test, and it must be performed no earlier than 3 days prior to their return to campus and no more than 5 days after. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you do not need to have a new test. (Employees who have traveled out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)
• On-Campus Events/Access to Campus: Only Fordham-sponsored events are permitted on campus. These events are open to spectators/invited guests (including family members, alumni and their families) who are fully up-to-date† on vaccinations. Any individual entering campus must show proof of up-to-date vaccinations.
• Masking Requirements: Masks are recommended but not required in classrooms, labs, work settings, and public spaces for individuals fully up-to-date† on vaccinations.
• Classroom and Laboratory Masking: Faculty may require masks in classrooms and laboratory settings, if in their judgement, circumstances warrant. Masks are Still Required for:
  • Unvaccinated individuals with a vaccine exemption;
  • All individuals on Ram Vans and in University Health Service locations (offices, and testing and vaccination sites).

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations.

• On-Campus Cases: In the last 7 days, 34 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• Mask Mandate: Governor Hochul will review the statewide school mask mandate in early March. Her decision will likely inform whether Fordham maintains the mandate, relaxes it significantly, or eliminates it altogether. New Yorkers are divided on the issue.
• COVID-19 Precautions for Performances and Athletic Events: all attendees must be up-to-date on vaccines,† and are required to wear face masks at all indoor performances and athletic events. Performers/athletes are not required to wear masks while on the stage/field. Only current students, faculty, and staff, and fully vaccinated parents and immediate family members may attend on-campus performances/competitions.
• University COVID-19 Policy Decisions: The campus community has seen pandemic conditions change—sometimes rapidly—over the course of the last two years, with appropriate adjustments to University policy. Our practice has been to make incremental policy changes and observe the effects on campus health. This process has proven effective: Fordham has managed to hold in-person classes during the pandemic with zero deaths and very few serious illnesses.
• Spring Break Return to Campus Requirements: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19 test results no later than March 30 regardless of whether or not they traveled during the break. The test must be a FDA EUA authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test, not an antigen or antibody test, and it must be performed no earlier than 3 days prior to their return to campus and no more than 5 days after. Students who tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you do not need to have a new test. (Employees who have traveled out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)

†“Up-to-date” means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations. All members of the University community are required to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces at all times. (See the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidelines on masks.)

• On-campus cases: In the last 7 days, 96 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• On February 10, Fordham’s COVID-19 masking requirements were relaxed slightly:
  • Masks are still required in classrooms; beverages are permitted, but not food.
  • All personnel must remain masked in indoor public spaces, with the following exceptions: masks are not required while dining in Fordham venues; nor in private offices, nor among fully vaccinated work groups; nor outdoors.
• As of today, all on-campus personnel must be fully up to date† on COVID-19 vaccines. Employees who are due for a COVID-19 booster shot but have not received one may be placed on unpaid leave.
• Individuals who are up to date on vaccines are not required to quarantine if exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19, consistent with current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
• Spring Break Return to Campus Requirements: All students who need to enter campus will be required to submit COVID-19 test results no later than March 30 regardless of whether or not you traveled during the break. The test must be a FDA EUA authorized PCR saliva or nasal swab test, not an antigen or antibody test, and it must be performed no earlier than 3 days prior to your return to campus and no more than 5 days after. If you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days, you do not need to have a new test. (Employees who have travel out of state—aside from routine commuting—at any time are expected to submit COVID-19 PCR test results within 4 days of their return.)

†”Up to date” in this context means the individual has received a full series of COVID-19 vaccines, and a booster shot, if eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator

Fordham University COVID-19 Guidelines on the web: fordham.edu/fordhamforward

Here are the five things you need to know about Fordham’s COVID-19 precautions, vaccinations, and University operations. All members of the University community are required to wear a mask in all indoor public spaces at all times. (See the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidelines on masks.)

• On-campus cases: In the last 7 days, 79 members of the University community tested positive for COVID-19, as listed on the University dashboard.
• As of Thursday, February 10, Fordham’s COVID-19 guidelines will revert to pre-Omicron status.
• The University will continue the masking requirement in classrooms, permitting beverages but not food.
• All personnel must remain masked in indoor public spaces, with the following exceptions. Masks are not required:
  • While dining in Fordham venues;
  • In private offices, or among fully vaccinated work groups;
  • Outdoors.
• Students and parents/guardians are permitted to attend athletic events indoors and outdoors; this includes the parents/guardians of visiting team members.
• All on-campus personnel must be fully vaccinated, and up to date, including COVID-19 boosters as medically eligible.

Every issue of Five Things is archived on our news site: news.fordham.edu/tag/five-things/

Marco Valera
Vice President for Administration & COVID-19 Coordinator