Dear Pitt Community,

As of Monday, March 8, the Pitt COVID-19 dashboard reflects the following:

The scope of our dashboard and these updates is limited to people who have been on a Pitt campus within the last 14 days.

At an average of 2.4 new cases per day, student infection rates on the Pittsburgh campus continue to remain low. There is no indication that the six new faculty or staff cases on the Pittsburgh campus are due to work-related transmission and contact tracing is underway.

In general, regional campus case numbers remain low. The three new student cases at Pitt-Johnstown are close contacts of someone already in isolation.

As a reminder, please do not come to campus if anyone in your pod or household is ill, in isolation or is awaiting COVID-19 test results.

Effective Thursday, March 11, at 7 a.m., the Pittsburgh, Bradford and Titusville campuses will move to Guarded Risk Posture. Occupancy of shared spaces on these Pitt campuses in Guarded Risk Posture will match Pennsylvania’s guidelines, which currently restrict indoor events to 15% of maximum capacity and outdoor events to 20% of maximum capacity—provided face coverings are worn and 6 feet of physical distancing can be maintained. Signage in shared spaces will reinforce occupancy limits. Guarded Risk does not mean we can let down our guard.

1.  The weather is going to be beautiful this week. Please maintain mitigation measures in public at all times: wear a face covering, keep 6 feet of distance from others and practice hand hygiene.

2.  With an official vaccine provider agreement from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we are ready to begin vaccinating the Pitt community as soon as vaccines arrive, but that timeline remains unknown and outside of our control. Make sure your colleagues and peers have completed the Pitt Vaccine Survey to help us prepare for that day.

3.  We encourage everyone to take the first opportunity afforded to get the vaccine in accordance with state and CDC guidelines—do not wait for any particular shot. Getting shots in arms quickly will help prevent further spread of COVID-19 variants.

4.  The CDC’s public health guidelines issued this week indicate that it is safe for people who are fully vaccinated to visit in private settings with people who are also fully vaccinated or at low risk for complications. The new guidelines continue to recommend masks and social distancing in public settings and in large groups. The main takeaway is for everyone—even fully vaccinated people—to continue the usual mitigation measures on our campuses and in our residence halls.

Thank you as always for your continued patience and efforts to keep the community safe.

Sincerely,

COVID-19 Medical Response Office