Variants found on campus.

The University of Rhode Island has confirmed over the past month that cases of more contagious variant strains of COVID-19 are on the Kingston Campus. Samples from URI are being tested and sequenced at our testing partner, the Broad Institute, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health State Health Laboratories.

In Rhode Island, there are several circulating SARS-CoV-2 “variants of concern,” which have been detected. These variants have the potential to spread more rapidly and cause more severe disease. Some variants may also affect our treatments, vaccines, and tests.

“While this is not unexpected, it reinforces why it is so important to protect yourself and others by continuing to wear a mask when you are in public places and around others you do not live with, washing your hands frequently, participating in bi-weekly surveillance testing, self-monitoring for symptoms, and getting vaccinated,” said Dr. Christopher Nasin, medical director at URI Health Services.

This weekend, April 24 and 25, all members of the URI community (students, including those from outside of Rhode Island, staff and faculty) will be able to obtain a vaccine at the state-run South County Point of Distribution (Schneider Electric building) between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. To schedule your free prioritized appointment, please click on one of the choices below to make an appointment. Students who may be leaving URI soon can receive their first doses at this clinic and receive their second in their home states.

A Rhody shuttle will run from the Memorial Union bus circle to the Schneider Electric vaccination site continuously on both days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is ample parking if you have your own transportation. It is essential that we have a vaccinated community to return to a near normal fall semester. If you have any questions about the vaccination clinic, please stop by the Memorial Union testing center vaccination table for assistance weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or call Health Services at 401.874.2246.

URI students and employees should continue to participate in bi-weekly surveillance testing at the Memorial Union, Kingston Campus, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at the Providence Campus, Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Regardless of your vaccination status, we ask that you continue to participate in testing.

We wish all our students, faculty and staff a successful and healthy end to the semester.