On Thursday, May 20, 2021, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pittsburgh campus is planning to move from Elevated to Guarded Risk Posture. This decision is based on the recommendations of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Healthcare Advisory Group (HCAG).

In making this recommendation, the HCAG and EOC note that the Pittsburgh campus has seen a consistent decline in cases and the campus population has largely dispersed with the conclusion of the spring term. The Pittsburgh campus has no students and no employees in isolation. The HCAG and EOC also note that PPE and contact tracing appear to be readily available as well. Allegheny County incident rates and hospitalizations are also improving, and vaccines are widely available. 

Requirements and guidance that remain in place in Guarded Risk Posture include: 

• Wearing face coverings, indoors and out, with very few exceptions.
• Maintaining a proper physical distance of 6 feet or more from others.  
• Washing or sanitizing hands frequently.
• Minimizing the number of close contacts outside of roommates, pods and households.

While the University’s health rules have not yet changed, the University is reviewing and considering the changing CDC and state guidelines.

Assuming there are no significant changes in conditions, all five University of Pittsburgh campuses will be in Guarded Risk Posture as of Thursday, May 20.