University of Cincinnati begins online transition on Wednesday

Due to the recent increase in local, state, and national COVID-19 cases, and the high transmission rate of the Omicron variant, the University of Cincinnati will transition online January 5, 2022 and pivot back to full in-person activities on Monday, January 24, 2022.

To minimize the disruption that the high transmissibility of the Omicron variant and subsequent quarantining and classroom absences would have on our operations, classes, along with academic support services, will be conducted online for the first two weeks of the academic semester.

The goal of this in-person delay is for us to assess the impact of Omicron on our populations; let the spike in transmissions run its course; implement additional measures for screening testing and vaccination; and allow faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to receive booster shots.

We want to ensure that, when we come back, we come back to a safer, healthier and fully vibrant face-to-face experience.

In response to full FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the University of Cincinnati is requiring  students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The university is taking this step to promote the health and safety of our university community. Research shows vaccines are the most effective form of protection against COVID-19.

All World Health Organization endorsed vaccines, including those in the U.S. made by Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, will fulfill the vaccine requirement. Booster shots may also be required in the future.

The university’s physician-led COVID Response Team is closely monitoring, local, regional, national and global trends related to COVID 19. Current standard policies apply to university-related domestic travel. International travel, is subject to additional review in light of changing circumstances.

Effective December 6, 2021, due to the Omicron variant you will need to have a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status or citizenship) no more than 1 day before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight. If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

Effective November 29, 2021, students and scholars from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will not be able to enter the U.S. as a result of the Omicron Coronavirus variant. Currently, no exemptions or an expiration date have been issued. Additional details will be added as they become available.

Given the most-recent developments with the virus, and in keeping with guidance from the CDC,  individuals, both fully vaccinated and those not fully vaccinated, are required to wear a facial covering indoors (unless you have received an exemption or accommodation; or when eating, drinking or alone in a private room). See more details on facial coverings.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear a facial covering when outdoors and unable to maintain social distancing. Individuals who are not wearing a facial covering when outdoors are attesting to compliance with this requirement.

Currently, the university is offering weekly  COVID screening testing. The testing site is located on the ground level of Steger Student Life Center.

Faculty, staff and students can submit proof of vaccination, which consists of a snapshot of your vaccination card,  via the UC COVID Check app and the web-based version of the COVID Check app.  Please do not submit other materials at this link.

The university may revisit these testing practices and protocols, depending on testing needs and the changing context.

Given that broad access to vaccines is available, on-campus quarantine and isolation housing is on reserve for student use but may be limited depending on events. Thus, on-campus quarantine and isolation housing cannot be guaranteed at any time. All students should have individual plans for isolation and quarantine housing in the event they are required to do so. Let’s remember that vaccination is currently the best way to prevent the need to quarantine or isolate.

The UC COVID Check App will remain in use and operation during the Spring 2022 Semester.

Students are required – and faculty, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged – to report via the UC COVID Check App if they develop viral symptoms, receive a positive COVID test result or have been in close contact with a COVID-positive person.

As we move forward together as a community, let’s also remember our campus practices may need to change as conditions change. As such, all COVID-19 practices and policies are subject to revision and updates.

Please read the above information, links and other navigation on this page.  If you still have questions after reviewing the available information, please email [email protected] Please check this site regularly as all COVID-19 practices and policies delineated throughout this site are subject to revision and updates.