Dear Pitt community,
Across all campuses, 88% of the Pitt community has now uploaded proof of vaccination against COVID-19, representing an overall increase of five percentage points since last week. As of Wednesday Sept. 15, this includes:
Overall reports of vaccination
- Faculty: 82%
- Staff: 84%
- Graduate students: 93%
- Undergraduate students: 89%
Pittsburgh campus
- Faculty: 82%
- Staff: 84%
- Graduate students: 93%
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Undergraduate students: 93%
- On-campus undergraduate students: 97%
- Off-campus undergraduate students: 90%
Bradford campus
- Faculty and staff: 75%
- Students: 75%
Greensburg campus
- Faculty and staff: 83%
- Students: 69%
Johnstown campus
- Faculty and staff: 70%
- Students: 70%
Unpacking the data
We are encouraged that the reports of vaccination continue to increase. Staff reports of vaccination outnumber faculty reports of vaccination. Also notable is that 97% of instructors across all campuses have reported that they are vaccinated as have 90% of off-campus undergraduate students on the Pittsburgh campus.
Reminders
If you have not uploaded proof of vaccination, you are required to participate in weekly COVID-19 testing. It is your personal responsibility to produce a negative test result every week. You will lose access to University buildings if you do not participate. Learn how to order a test now or get vaccinated as soon as possible. You may order multiple tests at a time for future weeks in order to ensure you remain compliant.
If you believe you are mistakenly on the list for mandatory testing, it may be because you have not correctly uploaded proof of vaccination. Double check that all dates are entered correctly. Visit the Pitt CoVax Vaccination Center for personal assistance uploading your card. Email confirmation of your uploaded proof of vaccination will not be sent. You may resubmit the form if you are unsure whether it has been entered correctly. You will be removed from the mandatory testing list two weeks past the date of your final dose.
Check the Pitt CoVax Vaccination Center for hours. Thanks to a special partnership with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, anyone who gets vaccinated in September can receive up to 2 free passes to each of the four Carnegie museums. The offer is open to the public and passes never expire.
COVID-19 Case Reporting
Period: Sept. 8 – Sept. 14, 2021
Below we report cumulative positive cases per week, per campus. We also report the seven-day daily average of positive tests as of Sept. 14. This information is also listed on coronavirus.pitt.edu.
Pittsburgh Campus
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Students: 44
Seven-day average of 6.3 positive student tests per day
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Faculty and staff: 15
Seven-day average of 2.1 positive faculty and staff tests per day
Bradford campus
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Students: 2
Seven-day average of 0.3 positive student tests per day
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Faculty and staff: 0
Seven-day average of 0 positive faculty and staff tests per day
Greensburg campus
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Students: 1
Seven-day average of 0.1 positive student tests per day
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Faculty and staff: 0
Seven-day average of 0 positive faculty and staff tests per day
Johnstown campus
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Students: 7
Seven-day average of 1 positive student test per day
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Faculty and staff: 0
Seven-day average of 0 positive faculty and staff tests per day
Unpacking the data
As expected, most of the positive cases we are seeing are mild. The vaccine is highly protective against severe disease, hospitalization and death, and the majority of our campus community is vaccinated. This is the good news. That said, breakthrough cases can and do occur, especially when unmasked. Unvaccinated individuals are at highest risk. In fact, a recent study released by the CDC showed that after Delta became the most common variant, unvaccinated individuals had a five-fold greater risk of infection, and more than a 10-fold increased risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.
Bottom Line
Everyone is required to always wear a mask indoors on campus, unless you are in a private space with the door closed. We highly recommend masking outdoors whenever possible, especially if you are part of a large social gathering where physical distancing is not possible. You should always wear a mask on public transportation.
Please get tested if you are invited to participate in focused testing because you were at a gathering where a positive case was identified. Details about focused testing will be shared on a case-by-case basis.
Getting your flu shot is more important than ever this year to help avoid a “twindemic” of seasonal flu and COVID-19.
The Pittsburgh campus has two remaining mass flu clinics: Employees and their families can get their flu shots on Tuesday, Sept. 21, 6:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center, and students can get their flu shots on Wednesday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the HealthyU Fair. The Pitt CoVax Vaccination Center will also offer flu shots to employees and their family members aged 9 or older. Book a flu shot appointment. Bradford and Johnstown campuses will host flu clinics on Oct. 12 and Sept. 22, respectively.
Please seek care for any symptom, and if COVID-19 testing is recommended, follow through.
Stay well and stay safe. Thank you for your partnership and patience.
Sincerely,
The COVID-19 Medical Response Office
