Due to ongoing boiler repairs, day and evening classes (and offices) held in some North Campus buildings will continue to be remote today, Tuesday, December 5.

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COVID-19 and Campus Health

Latest Campus Health Announcements

BA.2.86  

Public health officials recently identified a new COVID variant, BA.2.86, with a notable number of mutations, resulting in increased escape properties. This means that it is more likely to evade immunity from vaccination or past infection. Fortunately, the variant does not appear to produce more severe symptoms. However, and considering increasing COVID rates, like what we saw last fall, we want to remind the campus of available resources and information: 

  • We strongly encourage all of our campus community members to be fully vaccinated. Individuals who remain unvaccinated or undervaccinated are experiencing significantly higher rates of illness severity and hospitalizations.  

  • We have contracted with Cataldo Ambulance to provide the updated COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccines on campus for students and employees. Pre-registration is required pre-register for an appointment. 

    Tuesday, October 17, 10 am-2 pm, North Campus, Ellison Campus Center Commuter Lounge 

    Wednesday, October 25, 10 am-2 pm, Harrington Campus, Bertolon Café

    Thursday, November 2, 10 am-2 pm, Harrington Campus, Viking Hall Café/Starbucks

  • Free rapid antigen COVID tests are available in front of the Counseling & Health Services office in the Ellison Campus Center and in Human Resources. Please note that the expiration dates on these tests have been extended to at least November 2023.  

  • Masks are optional but strongly recommended for members of our campus community who are immunocompromised, have been exposed to COVID, or are ill but have not tested positive for COVID. We ask that you consider wearing an effective mask, such as a KN95 if you meet any one of the following criteria:  

  • You are experiencing new respiratory symptoms

  • You have tested positive for COVID within the past 10 days 

  • If you test positive for COVID, please follow the most recent isolation guidance, which advises a 5-day minimum isolation. We encourage you to have a negative rapid antigen test result before discontinuing your isolation. You can find an individualized isolation calculator on the CDC website. Residential students should engage their departure plan to complete isolation off campus. This information can be found in the 2023-2024 Residence Guide to Living. 

  • Students and employees can call our campus public health line, 978.542.3240, for individualized guidance or support.  

Covid-19 and Campus Health

This page has been created to merge and simplify our university COVID-19 public health guidance and resources. As we continue to evolve post-pandemic, we expect to provide other public health information, that is important and relevant to our campus community, here on this website. The American Public Health Association defines public health as a science-based, evidence-backed field that strives to give everyone a safe place to live, learn, work, and play. Public Health work often goes unnoticed in healthy communities and is important to improve everyone's quality of life, help individuals thrive, reduce suffering, and save money.  

Covid-19 Resources

Vaccination

We have contracted with Cataldo Ambulance to provide the updated COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccines on campus for students and employees. Pre-registration is REQUIRED.

Pre-register for an appointment.

Tuesday, October 17, 10 am-2 pm, North Campus, Ellison Campus Center Commuter Lounge 

Wednesday, October 25, 10 am-2 pm, Harrington Campus, Bertolon Café

Thursday, November 2, 10 am-2 pm, Harrington Campus, Viking Hall Café/Starbucks

 

Additional Information

Isolation

  • Any student or employee who tests positive for COVID-19, or other infectious disease, should contact our Campus Public Health hotline at 978.542.3240.

  • To determine your isolation guidance, please visit the CDC website.  

  • Residential students must create a emergency departure plan in their housing portal, designating an off-campus location to isolate should they test positive for COVID-19, or another infectious disease. There will not be any on campus isolation spaces. 

  • If a student must isolate on campus due to extenuating circumstances, they will complete their isolation in their current residential hall assignment space. Students can refer to the 2023-2024 Residence Life Guide to Living on Campus. 

Masking

Masking is not required, but strongly recommended if you are ill. Masks are available on a limited basis at health services. 

Influenza

  • Influenza is a serious disease that can be prevented through vaccination. As a recommendation from the Center for Disease Control, Salem State University recommends all student, staff, and faculty get the annual influenza vaccine. 

  • Students can schedule an appointment with Health Services via their health portal.   

  • Be on the lookout for influenza vaccine pop-up clinics this fall! 

Smoke Free Campus

  • Salem State University became one of the first public universities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to become a tobacco-free campus on September 1, 2011. The health and safety of students, employees and visitors is a top priority. The United States Surgeon General has determined that tobacco smoking is the nation's leading preventable cause of premature death and disability, and that this health hazard extends to non-smokers forced to breathe second-hand smoke.   

  • Smoking cessation resources and assistance is available at counseling at health services by making an appointment. Students can schedule this on their health portal.  

  • Employees can utilize the EAP for cessation assistance on Polaris.  

  • Mass QUITs, 1-800-QUIT-NOW  for free resource for one-on-one support for nicotine or tobacco vaping cessation via phone, text or email. Support services can include a combination of counseling, medication assistance, and other specialized support. 

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