University of Georgia
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

New Safety Measures and Dates for Return in Phases 2 & 3

Date:
Posted on
To:
  • UGA Students
From:
  • Jere W. Morehead, President
  • Victor Wilson, Vice President for Student Affairs

We have made significant progress in our Phase 1 work to prepare the campus for the full return of faculty, staff, and students in August. We appreciate the dedication of the supervisory personnel and essential staff members who have been leading the way during this initial period. Their work has enabled us to determine the dates for the commencement of Phases 2 and 3 in our plan for a gradual and safe return to full operations. 

Phase 2 will begin on Monday, July 20, when more supervisors, personnel performing mission critical/time-sensitive functions, and their support staff will join those who have already returned to campus in mid-June. As noted in the Return to Campus Guidelines, staggered or rotating weekly schedules and the use of telework in conjunction with on-campus work are still appropriate, as needed to maintain social distancing guidelines of the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH).

Phase 3 will begin on Monday, August 10, when all faculty and staff return to campus for Fall Semester, unless they have been approved for telework. Employees who worked staggered or rotating schedules and/or teleworked during Phases 1 and 2 will resume regular, in-person schedules on campus unless otherwise directed to support social distancing in unique and densely populated work environments. Fall Semester classes will begin on August 20.

As we have consistently stated, our primary commitment is to the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students. Members of the Medical Oversight Task Force have provided significant leadership in our ongoing planning, and they will continue to provide insight as our plans evolve in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Garth Russo, Executive Director of the University Health Center, leads this effort, along with Dr. Marsha Davis, Dean of the College of Public Health; Dr. Lisa Nolan, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine; and Dr. Shelley Nuss, Campus Dean of the AU/UGA Medical Partnership. Together, they are refining protocols for screening, monitoring, notification, and isolation; coordinating plans for contact tracing with the GDPH; and exploring options for COVID-19 testing.

We are pleased to report several new developments, among a host of measures being put in place to promote safe practices:

  • Effective July 15, 2020, the University of Georgia—along with all University System of Georgia (USG) institutions—will require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always be possible. Face covering use will be in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing. Face coverings will not be required when alone in an enclosed office or study room, in campus outdoor settings where social distancing requirements are met, or for students in their own residence hall rooms or suites. Anyone not using a face covering when required will be asked to wear one or must leave the area. Repeated refusal to comply with the requirement may result in discipline through the applicable conduct code for faculty, staff, or students. Reasonable accommodations may be made for those who are unable to wear a face covering for documented health reasons.
  • The University has purchased 150,000 cloth face masks—two for every faculty, staff, and student at UGA with extras on hand—and these are now being delivered to individuals and departments. An awareness campaign will soon be underway to help encourage students, faculty, staff, and visitors to comply with the requirement to wear face coverings, especially in classrooms, labs, study areas, student life facilities, buses, and other spaces where social distancing may not always be possible.
  • Surveillance and screening will be supported by the implementation of a notification application (app) that was recently purchased by UGA, upon the recommendation of the Medical Oversight Task Force after several weeks of research. The app is designed to provide a daily reminder to members of the campus community to check for symptoms prior to coming to campus each day. Self-reports of positive cases will automatically and securely notify the GDPH to begin contact tracing and will simultaneously engage the appropriate University units to facilitate mitigation efforts, such as cleaning and disinfecting the impacted environments or providing support services to those in need. The app will be tested in Phase 2 for roll-out by Phase 3, and more details will be forthcoming.
  • Both the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Lab and Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Lab are now certified to support human SARS-CoV-2 testing. Previously the labs were certified to accept and perform diagnostic tests on animal tissues and cultures, but this new certification grants them the ability to accept human samples. Veterinary Medicine is now gearing up to perform this service. The expertise of our faculty in this area will be of great benefit to our University and local community.
  • We are actively forging our partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health for contact tracing, and we anticipate that the GDPH also will play a role in our testing strategy as we move into the next phases of reopening. Students will have a number of testing options available:
    • The University Health Center is offering testing by appointment for students; appointments may be booked by calling 706-542-1162.
    • Any member of the community can call the Northeast District Screening Hotline at 706-340-0996 for an appointment at the GDPH’s fixed testing site located at 1030 Mitchell Bridge Road.
    • In addition, many private providers in the local community also are offering testing.
  • Sixty thousand (60,000) digital thermometers are currently being distributed to all faculty, staff, and students. In the best interest of the health and safety of our community, the University of Georgia is requiring all faculty, staff, and students to self-monitor and is asking that they take their temperature every morning before coming to campus.
  • More than 4,000 gallons of hand sanitizer have been ordered and will be available for distribution in classrooms, offices and common areas across campus.
  • Over 2.5 million individual sanitizing wipes have been delivered to UGA, with an order for refills to arrive later this month.
  • More than 4,500 individuals have completed a mandatory supervisor training module on health and safety precautions and individual responsibility. (This training is accessible to those who are not supervisors.)
  • Similar mandatory training modules are also being prepared for all faculty and staff.
    • Employees returning during Phase 2 will have access to the training module prior to their return through the Professional Education Portal.
    • The training module for students will be in place by early August and will be available via eLC.
  • The Office of Instruction is offering courses and resources to aid instructors in preparing for the Fall 2020 semester. Among the resources are:
  • The Division of Marketing & Communications has developed signage and other resources to support the return to campus. 

It is important that all members of the community are aware of the many safety precautions being taken by the University, are knowledgeable of the resources available to them, and understand their individual responsibility to abide by the guidelines issued by the GDPH, CDC, USG, and UGA to contain the spread of the coronavirus. We are doing everything within our power to maintain a healthy and safe environment for all of us to live, work, and learn. Your ongoing support, cooperation, and flexibility remains essential for our efforts to succeed. We look forward to seeing you next month.