Updated Campus COVID Guidelines
Dear students, faculty, and staff,
As we watch COVID-19 case counts drop on campus, I want to thank each of you for all you have done and are doing to take care of yourself and others.
With our case counts on campus low and our understanding, tools, and treatments for COVID-19 continuing to grow, we are coming to a place where we manage COVID on campus much like we manage other illnesses like the flu. Last week, the CDC updated its guidance, recognizing the changing dynamics of living in a world with COVID-19. As of yesterday, the CDC has downgraded Knox County’s community level from high to medium, recommending that those with high risk for severe illness talk with their health care providers about the use of masks and other precautions.
We will be updating our campus mask signage to reflect broader health messages of staying home if you are not feeling well and practicing good health hygiene. Wearing a mask is always an option for any individual who chooses to do so.
COVID-19 rapid tests remain available at the Student Health Center pharmacy and many other pharmacies in our community. The university will continue to provide guidance and resources triggered through the COVID-19 support form. It is up to all of us to make informed decisions about our health.
It has been almost two years since we had to first respond to COVID-19. Members of our community have endured so much in that time and shown such resilience and compassion for others. We have come a long way in two years, and I have never been prouder to be a Volunteer.
Donde Plowman
Chancellor