The University of Miami announced in an email on Wednesday morning that the use of masks in outdoor settings is no longer required on any campus. The change was effective immediately and is in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance from May 13.

In addition, the message outlined the following changes to COVID-19 safety protocols across all campuses.

Daily Symptom Checker:

• On all University of Miami campuses, the daily symptom checker will no longer be required for faculty, staff, and students to enter buildings.
• Non-University of Miami students and volunteers must still complete the Daily Symptom Checker.
• UHealth patients must still be screened before entering any hospital or clinic facility. 

Testing:

• As previously communicated, any student who is fully vaccinated and who has provided proof of vaccination to the University via their MyUHealthChart.com account is exempt from COVID-19 surveillance testing during the 2021 summer term.
• Any student who is not fully vaccinated or has not provided proof of vaccination and will be on any University of Miami campus at least twice per week during the summer term will be required to take a COVID-19 test two times per week.
• Unvaccinated students will continue to receive direct messages from UScreen in order to be tested twice weekly. 

Indoor Mask Use:

More specific changes regarding indoor mask wearing on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses were announced as follows:

• Faculty, staff, and students who have been fully vaccinated and are asymptomatic do not need to wear masks indoors in administrative areas. To be fully vaccinated, you must be at least two weeks past receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 
• Masks are still required in classrooms and public spaces, including elevators, regardless of vaccination status.
• Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must continue to wear masks in all indoor settings.

For the Medical Campus:

• In the hospitals and clinics, masks remain required at all times by everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
• For non-hospital, non-clinic, and mixed-use buildings: Employees, faculty members, and Medical Campus students who have been fully vaccinated and are asymptomatic do not need to wear masks indoors in administrative areas. Regardless of vaccination status, masks are still required in classrooms and public spaces, including elevators.

Individuals who were vaccinated outside UHealth should upload proof of vaccination to their MyUHealthChart.com portal. Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated and who experience COVID-19 symptoms should contact the University’s COVID-19 hotline at 305-243-ONE-U.

Written by News@TheU

Published on May 28, 2021