Dear Members of the HMS Community:

Last week you received a University-wide message announcing updates and modifications to Harvard’s COVID-19 operations and policies, effective Dec. 22. These include retiring the contact tracing team and Crimson Clear, redirecting the Keep Harvard Healthy website to the Harvard University Health Services COVID-19 information page, and maintaining vaccination compliance.

These changes notwithstanding, the health and safety of the HMS community remains a top priority. COVID-19 is still prevalent, as are other respiratory illnesses including influenza and RSV. As such, we advocate a commonsense approach to masking based on the environment and circumstances. We encourage you to carry a mask with you at all times in case you need it, especially in crowded or unventilated indoor settings.

Our Keep HMS Healthy webpage will remain for the foreseeable future, as it will continue to be an important source of current and relevant information and guidance. For example, we will be linking to specific guidance for students who test positive for COVID-19, including details on academic accommodations and isolation and quarantine requirements specifically for those living in Vanderbilt Hall. As changes are made to the University’s policies leading up to the Dec. 22 transition, we will be updating our HMS webpage and links accordingly.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our community and to one another.

Sincerely,

George Q. Daley
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University

Lisa M. Muto
Executive Dean for Administration
Harvard Medical School