This message is sent on behalf of URI’s Division of Student Affairs and Department of Public Safety.

The University of Rhode Island is thankful for the incredible response the members of our Greek Life community had to the shelter-in-place request. Thanks to the positive response to regular surveillance testing and to the cooperation with the shelter-in-place order, we have seen a positive decline in the positivity rate within our Greek community.

The Greek Life shelter-in-place order is lifted as of 5 p.m. this evening for all chapters that have participated in our mandatory testing process AND that have an overall positivity rate below 2%. If your chapter has a positivity rate above 2% and your members have not readily participated in testing, your shelter-in-place will continue until Monday, November 2, at 5 p.m. All chapters required to continue to shelter in place will receive a separate notification.

We ask that all of our community members continue to follow health guidelines including wearing face coverings, physical distancing, small and stable group sizes, and good hand hygiene. Testing will be available weekdays, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Union Atrium.

All asymptomatic students should plan to be tested weekly until the Thanksgiving break when classes are moved to remote instruction.

As a University community, we are concerned about Halloween weekend. We must remain vigilant through the Halloween weekend and refrain from gathering in groups outside of our roommates. Also, we must continue to wear face coverings, even with our friends. If we do not follow these health and safety guidelines this weekend, the virus is likely to spread and may impact our ability to continue face-to-face classes this semester AND next.

We know this is hard and everyone is missing friends and family. Please do not make in-person Halloween plans with friends; these events could quickly get out of hand and prove to be super-spreaders that jeopardize the remainder of the semester. Any student who violates the health and safety guidelines will be referred to the Office of Community Standards and face additional conduct action.