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Health, Wellbeing and Belonging

April 14, 2021 – Faculty Return to Campus Update

Posted by on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Community Messages.

COVID-19 public dashboard update

The COVID-19 asymptomatic positive rate for the week of April 4-10 is 0.18 percent, a decrease from the previous week. As the weather warms, it remains as important as ever to follow campus protocols and act responsibly as the pandemic continues.   

Vanderbilt’s on- and off-campus safety protocols remain in place

Despite the city of Nashville’s changes to restrictions on masks for outdoor settings, Vanderbilt’s COVID-19 safety protocols and mask requirements remain the same. Whether you are on or off campus, you are to wear a mask and stay physically distanced to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have these safety protocols in place to protect the health and safety of every member of the Vanderbilt community and to prevent people bringing the virus back to campus. 

VUMC now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all Vanderbilt community members

Undergraduate, graduate and professional students may begin scheduling vaccinations through Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Faculty, staff and postdocs are able to receive a vaccination through the Occupational Health Center. Faculty who are in the asymptomatic testing program will no longer need to participate in the testing program ONLY if they submit their vaccination records to the Command Center. The vaccinated person will be exempt from asymptomatic testing beginning from the two-week mark after their final dose of the vaccine.

COVID-19 testing program enhancement

In an effort to improve testing convenience and efficiency, Vanderbilt has added a new laboratory for its COVID-19 test sample processing. The new lab uses smaller test tubes for the saliva collection process, and results are expedited more quickly. This transition will not impact the reliability of test results, the method in which results are delivered or the process by which individuals are tested. 

Spring semester testing

The asymptomatic testing program will continue through Tuesday, May 11.  

  • The testing center will be closed after Tuesday, May 11, for the spring semester. 
  • Drive-thru testing area will close for the semester after May 11. The location will also be closed on May 2 due to Commencement ceremonies. 

Summer COVID-19 testing

Asymptomatic testing will resume on May 17 for those who will need to be on campus over the summer. Faculty who signed up for the optional asymptomatic testing program are welcome to visit the testing center or drive-thru in the summer as well. There will be no mandatory testing for Blair faculty this summer. 

  • The testing center and the drive-thru will reopen May 17 for summer testing. 
  • Summer hours will be Monday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and Tuesday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-1p.m.