Section Menu

Coronavirus

COVID-19 policies extended, January 2022

Dear Campus Community:

We are so glad you are back and settled in for the spring semester. Thank you to all who have obtained COVID-19 boosters these past few weeks to help keep our community as safe as possible as we welcomed students back to campus.

While the highly transmissible Omicron variant continues to spread, and the current positivity rate in Orange County is around 36 percent, our positivity rate at Rollins is currently under 12 percent. In addition, we are seeing additional positive cases throughout all populations – faculty, staff, and students – but these individuals largely are not suffering serious illness. We are so grateful that affected campus community members have mostly experienced only mild illness.

We remain optimistic that decreases in positivity rates will continue as we successfully manage cases on campus. To assist with this, current campus COVID protocols shared January 10 will remain in place through the end of January. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to our COVID-19 FAQ.

Provost Susan Singer

Masks

As announced earlier this month, we recommend the use of medical grade (KN95, KF94, or surgical) masks while on campus. Please see the CDC’s most recent guidance on masks, including the importance of wearing medical-grade masks, especially with a more transmissible strain like Omicron. Please be sure your mask covers your nose and mouth, without any gaps.

We have made medical-grade masks available to members of our campus community. You may obtain individual masks at Bush Science Center administrative offices, the Olin Library Circulation Desk, the Kathleen W. Rollins Hall Welcome Desk, and the Wellness Center. In addition, KN95 masks are available for purchase at the Rollins Bookstore for $1.50 each. Due to nationwide demand and cost, we are unable to provide large quantities to any individual.

The White House has announced that 400 million masks will be available free of charge at pharmacies and community health centers nationwide starting next week. This initiative, the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program, offers three masks per person through retailers such as CVS, Publix, and Walgreens, among others. Should you need additional masks, we encourage you to seek out these resources.

We are proud that our community is taking this variant seriously, and that our current protocols are proving effective in mitigating transmission.

Vaccine and boosters, isolation and quarantine information

If you're fully vaccinated, meaning you've received your booster shot, had your second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines within the last six months, or received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the last two months and you are identified as a close contact exposure:
 
  • You no longer need to quarantine if asymptomatic. Instead, wear a mask around others for 10 days.
  • Get a test five days after exposure.
  • If you develop symptoms, get a test right away and stay home.
If you're due for your booster shot and haven't received it yet or are unvaccinated and are identified as a close contact exposure:
  • Stay home and quarantine for five days and continue to wear a mask when around others for another five days after exposure.
  • Get a test five days after exposure if asymptomatic, get tested right away if symptoms develop.

Vaccine and booster appointments at the Wellness Center

The Wellness Center continues offering COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Those who have received the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine can now sign up for a Moderna or Pfizer booster shot. You can learn more about boosters here.
 
Make an appointment by clicking below to make an appointment. Enter necessary patient information, choose date/time and continue to follow prompts.