Revised guidance for fully vaccinated faculty and staff
Dear Cornell Faculty and Staff,
It’s heartening to see that the number of fully vaccinated students, faculty and staff on our Ithaca and Geneva campuses is nearing 8,000 Cornellians, and now that vaccination eligibility in New York state extends to all residents over the age of 16, we expect the number of those vaccinated to increase significantly in the coming weeks.
As state and federal public health entities adjust their guidance for vaccinated individuals, Cornell is likewise modifying certain guidelines and restrictions. Here are the relevant revisions for fully vaccinated faculty and staff (i.e., those who are 14 days past their final dose of an FDA-approved vaccine) who have provided Cornell with proof of vaccination:
- Quarantine requirements. Fully vaccinated faculty, staff and students who are asymptomatic are no longer required to quarantine after contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. Please note that if you come into contact with someone with COVID-19, and you are symptomatic, you must self-isolate, complete the Daily Check and schedule your telehealth visit even if you have been vaccinated.
- Travel. Quarantine is no longer required upon return from domestic travel (personal or approved Cornell travel), and faculty and staff can return to campus upon completion of travel. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are not required to quarantine, but are encouraged to work remotely for five days and seek supplemental testing on days 1 and 4. New York state recently updated guidelines for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers returning from international locations. Additional information can be found on the COVID-19 website. At this time, non-essential domestic and international travel remains discouraged.
- Surveillance testing. Beginning on April 20, fully vaccinated faculty and staff (i.e., 14 days after your final dose) who have uploaded proof of vaccination to the Daily Check will be exempt from surveillance testing requirements.
- Easing of additional restrictions. Beginning June 1, we anticipate that additional restrictions will be further eased for fully vaccinated employees, such as access to gyms and recreational facilities, as well as the ability to meet in small groups for meetings and special events.
As previously announced, beginning today, April 15, all vaccinated faculty, staff and students are required to submit proof of vaccination through the Daily Check once they’ve completed the dose schedule for the vaccine. Please note, you can upload proof of vaccination to the Daily Check immediately following your final dose; however, you are not considered fully vaccinated until 14 days after receiving your final dose
Understanding how many members of our community are vaccinated will allow us to continue to adjust our guidelines while keeping campus safety at the forefront. This information will also enable us to relax certain requirements and restrictions for community members who have been fully vaccinated. We strongly encourage all members of the Cornell community who have not yet been immunized to seek vaccination as soon as possible.
In addition, current guidance and requirements that pertain to the Daily Check, shared offices and workspaces, eating in shared offices, on-campus gatherings and events, public health guidelines (including masks, distancing, building density, etc.), public access into campus buildings, and recreation remain in effect, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
Thank you for your attention to these revisions to our guidelines.
Sincerely,
Michael Kotlikoff
Provost
Mary Opperman
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer