COVID-19 VACCINATION AND BOOSTER

• Through May 31, 2023, employees and students are required to be “up to date” with COVID-19 vaccines. Up to date with COVID-19 Vaccine(s) is defined as a person who has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible. For example, an individual is up to date when they have received a full course of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO) authorized COVID-19 vaccine, and any booster dose(s) when eligible. Details regarding this policy and how to comply with the requirements can be found on the Vaccinations page. Information on Brown’s decision, effective June 1, 2023, to no longer require the COVID-19 vaccination for most faculty, staff, students or visitors is available in the Messages to the Community section.

COVID-19 TESTING

• Testing is optional for all employees, undergraduate, graduate and medical students who are on campus, regardless of vaccination status. Rapid antigen tests are widely available from a variety of sources, and insurance companies are now reimbursing the costs of tests. Community members should consider taking a rapid antigen test when experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

MASK WEARING

• Masks are optional on Brown’s campus, except in settings where faculty, staff or clinicians require masking. Such settings includes medical settings and during appointments with clinicians who request masking at their discretion, as well as classes, labs or meetings with individual faculty, staff or student instructors who may choose to require that attendees wear a mask.

• While masks are required in health care facilities, including the Health & Wellness Center, this will change effective June 1, 2023. As of that date, the Health & Wellness Center will no longer require masks and will adopt a mask-optional policy. Masks are recommended when an individual has active respiratory symptoms (e.g. fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat), or if they are not up to date with vaccinations and have had a recent close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This approach follows CDC recommendations and is consistent with policies in health care facilities in Rhode Island and the surrounding area. The Health & Wellness Center will continue to have masks available for clinicians and students to wear during appointments. In addition, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to maintain a personal supply of masks and tests in the event of COVID-19 exposure or to self-test if experiencing symptoms. These health supplies continue to be readily available at local markets and pharmacies.

• Carry an approved mask at all times and respect personal choices: Brown community members should carry a well-fitting KN95, KF94, N95 or disposable/surgical mask at all times in case a situation arises where a mask is required (such as a host’s preference at a meeting or other situation listed above). We also encourage all students, staff and faculty to wear a mask whenever you choose to do so and for any reason (including personal and community protection against seasonal flu and colds). This personal choice should be respected. As with vaccination status, no one should ask another individual about their personal choice to wear a mask.