With the COVID-19 Omicron surge seemingly fading in Massachusetts, Boston University is relaxing some, but not all, of its pandemic protocols. Between February 7 and 13, 1.47 percent of tested BU students were positive for COVID, according to the University's public COVID dashboard; 0.56 percent of tested staff members and 0.21 percent of tested faculty members were also positive.
In a February 15 letter, Judy Platt, BU chief health officer and executive director of Student Health Services, announced that changes put in place at the beginning of the year-including stricter masking in classrooms and increased testing for students-are being phased out. Citing state, city, and campus data, MWRA wastewater tracking, and high vaccination rates, Platt said the following changes would come into effect on February 21:
Testing: Undergraduate students will test just once a week rather than twice a week. Testing will remain unobserved. There are no changes for faculty, staff, and graduate students, who will continue weekly unobserved testing.
Catering and Events: On-campus catered food and beverage services can resume. (The Back2BU site has advice on event planning.)
Visitors: Students can bring outside guests into residence and dining halls-a return to pre-pandemic life. BU's visitor policy strongly recommends all visitors are vaccinated and asks that they stick to masking rules. And a green badge will no longer be required to enter student residence and dining halls.
Face Masks: Those teaching or presenting in a classroom are again allowed to do so without a mask. All other indoor mask rules remain in place.
The University is also lifting special accommodations for faculty and staff put in place during the Omicron surge. They had allowed for remote teaching and working for those who'd tested positive for COVID or who had been experiencing caregiving disruptions. Those exceptions will end, starting February 21.
In a letter to faculty and staff, Jean Morrison, provost and chief academic officer, Derek Howe, senior vice president for operations, and Amanda Bailey, vice president for human resources, said "all residential courses should be taught in-person" and encouraged faculty to make recorded lectures available to students in isolation or quarantine. The letter recommended that faculty who can't make an in-person class develop alternate plans, which "might include identifying another faculty member or senior doctoral student who can teach your class, or rescheduling classes." Staff who test positive or are hit with caregiving issues were advised to work with their vice presidents or deans to "determine the best available options."
Both letters came on the same day that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health changed its advice on indoor masking. Back in December, the state had recommended all residents wear a mask when indoors in public places; now, that advice only applies to the unvaccinated and those at greater risk because of a weakened immune system or underlying medical condition.
The Brink spoke with Platt and Gloria Waters, BU vice president and associate provost for research, to ask why the University is making these changes now, why it's not going further in relaxing restrictions, and what it will take for us to lose the masks.
Have more COVID questions? Check out the Back2BU website for all the details on BU's masking, testing, vaccination, quarantine, and isolation policies.
