Dear Student, 

We hope that your return to campus or transition from your summer housing has been a smooth one. Many students have been asking questions about stage two of Quiet Period, and we hope to answer those questions for you. 

The Quiet Period began with Phase One move-in, and it will end on September 15. This period of observation and self-monitoring is consistent with CDC and Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) guidelines, and it reflects the advice of public health and medical experts at Brown. The goal is to identify infections and prevent their spread, recognizing that some students will have either pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic coronavirus infections when they arrive at Brown because of high rates of infection in many parts of the country.

At this time, we are in stage one of Quiet Period. During this time, you are not permitted to leave your residence hall except to get a COVID-19 test, receive care from Health Services by appointment, or to pick up your dining hall meal. 

The decision about whether and when we will be able to proceed to stage two of the Quiet Period will be based on data from on-campus students’ testing. If health indicators are sufficiently positive after the second negative COVID-19 test of a sufficiently high number of students in the testing program, we will inform you of the shift to stage two. We anticipate that this announcement will be sometime in the middle of next week. 

In stage two, you will be able to leave your residence hall for limited, essential movement on campus but you cannot have contact with the community beyond Brown’s campus – including students living off campus – until September 16. Please carry your face mask with you at all times. You will be able to engage in the following activities:

• engage in outdoor exercise or recreation (on-campus only); wearing a mask is required unless you are able to easily, continuously, and measurably maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet

• gather in groups, preferably outdoors, of no more than 5 students (who also live on campus); wearing a mask is required unless you are able to easily, continuously, and measurably maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet

• order contactless food delivery directly to your residence hall 

• access grab-and-go dining from Dining Halls; wearing a mask and maintaining social distance of at least 6 feet is required at all times.

It is critically important for the protection of the health of the Brown and greater Providence community that everyone adheres fully to these required protocols.

Please continue to consult the Healthy Brown website for the most current information.  

Best regards, 
Vanessa Britto, M.D., M.Sc., FAC
Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Executive Director of Health and Wellness

Koren Bakkegard
Associate Vice President for Campus Life
Dean of Students