August 13, 2021
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
I write to you with our weekly update from the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group (CRAG). We have highlighted essential points in yellow.
New Cases at Reed
Since our last update, we have identified no new confirmed COVID-19 cases at Reed. We continue to report all associated COVID-19 cases online, found in the "Total Cases" section of the dashboard.
Updated face covering requirements
This week, Multnomah County and the state of Oregon both 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. Reed College has adopted this requirement, effective Wednesday, August 11.
More information can be found in our August 10 communication and on our face coverings webpage. Risk Assessment Group members are working to provide specific guidance to supervisors and the larger community in the coming weeks as we navigate this change. If you have specific questions about this rule, please contact us at coronavirusquestions@reed.edu.
Surveillance testing next week
Next week, surveillance testing will take place on Monday, August 16 from 12 PM to 2 PM and Wednesday, August 18 from 10 AM to 2 PM at the west entrance of the Performing Arts Building (PAB). Beginning this week, we will no longer be using SignUp Genius to schedule testing appointments; individuals may simply drop in to the testing location to complete their required COVID-19 surveillance test.
At this time, all community members who have not submitted vaccination records to HR (faculty/staff) or the HCC (students) are required to test once during each week in which they will be on campus.Individuals do not need to test during weeks they are not coming to campus, or if they have submitted records of full COVID-19 vaccination to the appropriate office. For more information about the Reed COVID-19 surveillance testing program, please visit our website here.
COVID-19 Vaccine
To inform the development of a safe and healthy campus, Reed asks all community members to share their COVID vaccination records with the HCC (students) or HR (staff and faculty).
Currently, 95% of Reed staff and faculty have been verified as fully vaccinated by the Reed Human Resources team.
91% of all potential students (registered or eligible to register for the fall 2021 semester) have submitted records of vaccination to the HCC; 89% of all potential students have been verified as fully vaccinated.
The deadline for students to submit records or contact the HCC to make a vaccination plan was August 1. Students who continue to remain out of compliance with this policy risk losing their ability to participate in classes and campus activities as we approach the start of the fall 2021 semester. Staff will be working over the next month to contact and obtain records from the 12% of students who have not yet engaged with this process. We will continue to share updated data on vaccination rates in our weekly updates.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group at coronavirusquestions@reed.edu.
Sincerely,
Madison Riethman, MPH, CPH
COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Health Project Manager
Health & Counseling Services
Reporting on behalf of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Group
PS: As a reminder, you can track all our COVID-19 communications to members of the Reed Community here.