August 10, 2021

Dear Reed students, faculty, staff, and parents,

Yesterday, August 9, Multnomah County announced the reinstatement of an indoor face covering requirement for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. This decision comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have surged over the last several weeks, prompting public health officials to take steps to prevent further transmission until more individuals are vaccinated.

In alignment with this latest executive order, face coverings will be required in all indoor spaces while on the Reed campus, effective Wednesday, August 11, and will remain in effect until otherwise noted. This requirement applies to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are not required if you are

• inside your private residence hall room or apartment, with only your roommates;
• inside your own personal vehicle, with only members of your household;
• actively eating or drinking;
• engaged in an essential activity that makes wearing a face covering not feasible (e.g., taking a shower or brushing your teeth);
• in a private, individual workspace when others are not present;
• removing the face covering briefly for healthcare purposes, upon request by a medical professional.

We recognize that wearing face coverings indoors during the Excessive Heat Warning in effect from August 11 through until August 14 creates an added challenge. The Emergency Response Team is actively monitoring the warning. If temperatures rise to the level predicted, modified campus operations may be implemented by department directors. Updates to campus operations during the warning are posted on the Reed homepage.

Reed’s COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group will continue to monitor this changing guidance and will provide further updates on our COVID-19 Prevention and Response Plan website as more information becomes available. If you have additional questions, please contact us coronavirusquestions@reed.edu.

In health,

COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group

_________

COVID-19 Risk Assessment Working Group

Co-Chairs
Kathy Oleson, Dean of the Faculty & Professor of Psychology
Hugh Porter, Vice President for College Relations & Planning

Members
Gary Granger, Director of Community Safety
Mandy Heaton, Executive Director of Communications & Public Affairs
Karnell McConnell-Black, Vice President for Student Life
Suzy Renn, Professor of Biology
Madison Riethman, COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Health Project Manager
Timmie Rochon, Medical Services Director
April Sams, Director of Risk Management & Environmental Health and Safety
Lynn Valenter, Vice President of Finance and Treasurer