In Summer 2022, the University began to transition operations to managing COVID-19 on campus in a similar way to how other infectious diseases are managed, and we expect to continue that for the 2022-23 academic year.

While we continue to actively monitor and support Brown community members who report positive COVID-19 test results, we have seen no recent indication of widespread transmission or instances of severe illness or hospitalization.

The Campus Activity Status page remains the best guide for information on COVID-19 measures in place at any given time. As has been the case throughout the pandemic, our planning is based on expert medical and public health guidance — if public health conditions change, we will take appropriate steps at that time.

Yes. The Brown community’s compliance with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirement has been essential to maintaining in-person academic and administrative operations over the last year, and the requirement that all community members remain up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations will remain in place for the entire 2022-23 academic year. This requirement applies to all employees and all students who will be on campus or engage in any level of in-person instruction, whether in the U.S. or abroad.

Employees and students who have already received an approved medical or religious exemption from a COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be exempt. Students who have not previously received an exemption and wish to request one should contact University Health Services at vaccineexemptions@health.brown.edu to request an exemption form, and complete and submit that exemption form for review. Employees who wish to request an exemption will be directed to the appropriate request form in Workday or provided with instructions to contact a University Human Resources representative.

Additional information, including on how to document your vaccinations with the University, is available in the Vaccinations section of Healthy Brown.

A full set of COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs for Visitors and Guests is available in the Vaccinations section of Healthy Brown. The information includes definitions for visitor types (long-term, short-term and limited-duration), outlines vaccination requirements for each, and addresses a range of related questions.

The Campus Activity Status page remains the best guide for information on COVID-19 measures in place at any given time, and it outlines mask wearing and COVID-19 testing protocols in place at any given time.

Undergraduate, graduate and medical students are required to report any positive test result to University Health Services via the Health and Wellness Patient Portal using their Brown username and password. Any student experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory illness should not attend any in-person classes or other activities and must contact University Health Services, and University Health Services will continue conducting symptomatic testing of student patients as they determine is clinically necessary.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must report results to University Human Resources. Please send a copy of test results to leave_admin@health.brown.edu.

Brown continues to adhere to guidance from the Rhode Island Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control. The University requires that community members who test positive for COVID-19 self-isolate for a period of five (5) days. The 5-day period applies regardless of previous infection, vaccination or booster status, and the presence or absence of symptoms.

• To calculate your 5-day isolation period, day 0 is your first day of symptoms OR your asymptomatic positive test date (whichever is earlier).
• Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or positive test result.
• On day 5 you can take a rapid antigen test, and if the result is negative (do not send in the negative test results) and you have no symptoms or improving symptoms, you are released from isolation.
• Individuals may also end isolation (without a negative rapid antigen test) 5 full days after testing positive if they are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving.
• If you have been very sick from COVID-19 and your symptoms and fever are not improving or you have a weakened immune system, isolation is recommended for at least 10 days.
• If you are able to end isolation on day 5, it is important to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 5 additional days, even at home.

Given the high vaccination rate within our community, we are shifting our focus to encourage students to maintain their routines and remain in their housing even upon positive COVID-19 diagnosis. We encourage students to begin an open dialogue with their roommates and suitemates about COVID-19 safety precautions, and plan in advance for how you will manage living in your shared environment over the course of the semester.

• Students in on-campus Brown housing: Students who test positive will isolate in their residence hall room, while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols like masking and sanitization if they have roommates or suitemates. Roommates or suitemates who test negative may remain in their room or stay with a friend or family who may be in the area. Questions regarding housing situations may be directed to Residential Life at res_life@brown.edu.
• Students residing off campus: Off-campus students who test positive will be expected to isolate at their residence. Shelf-stable food, tissues and toiletries will be helpful to have readily available in the event that the whole house or apartment needs to be isolated.

Grab-and-go meals will be made available by Brown Dining Services to all students who are self-isolating and live on campus, and also to those who live off campus but are registered with a meal plan. We advise students to keep essentials including shelf-stable food readily available in the event you need to isolate.

For any student in need of assistance, Student Support Services deans are available to assist with a wide range of issues and concerns. Meetings can be held in-person or via Zoom. To schedule a meeting with a Student Support Dean, call 401-863-3145 or email studentsupport@brown.edu. In addition, the Administrator on Call is available 24 hours a day by calling 401-863-3322 and asking to speak to the Administrator On Call.

The health and safety of our students, faculty and staff remains our top priority, and our approach to instruction continues to be based on current health guidelines and expert guidance from public health and medical professionals.

Brown's provost wrote to the full University community on Aug. 9, 2022, outlining guidance on the following topics affecting teaching and instruction for undergraduate and graduate courses:

• The importance of holding classes in the modes listed in Courses@Brown (as listed for in-person, fully online or hybrid)
• Guidance for students and instructors related to student absences
• Guidance for instructors to share plans with students concerning the possibility of instructor absences for personal and family situations
• Managing shopping period classroom density
• Guidance concerning masks in classrooms
• Departmental events and gatherings

The full message is available in the Messages to the Community section of Healthy Brown.