This has been an exciting week as students, faculty and staff return for a dynamic and exciting fall semester. And even though we’re in just the first week of classes, we have great news to report:

• 99.3% of students are fully or partially vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an approved exemption.
• Even though it has only been a week since the University established a vaccine mandate for faculty and staff, we extend our thanks to the more than 1,100 faculty and staff who have submitted their COVID-19 vaccine documentation. If you haven’t done so yet, please click here to submit now.

As you know, students who have an approved exemption from the vaccination mandate, must get tested twice a week.

But to help us in our efforts to monitor the University’s overall health and efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19, we ask all vaccinated students, faculty and staff to participate in frequent and free asymptomatic testing at the Memorial Union Atrium Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wearing masks indoors is critical

We also want to remind community members to continue wearing masks indoors. We have observed individuals and groups either not wearing masks at all or wearing them improperly. While the large majority of our students and many of our employees are vaccinated, COVID-19, and especially the more contagious Delta variant, can result in breakthrough cases among those who are fully vaccinated and could cause serious illness among those not vaccinated.

URI community members and visitors are expected to wear masks indoors unless they are eating or drinking. Remember to make sure your mask fits over your nose and chin, and avoid touching it. The COVID-19 Task Force has full details on the indoor mask mandate.

Also, the University continues to run free COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Sept. 16, 22, 29 and 30.

Finally, we want to remind community members that among the three best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are: Getting vaccinated; wearing a face covering indoors even if you are vaccinated; and staying away from campus if you are ill or exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID-19.

Faculty, staff, and students with symptoms, even mild symptoms, should test the same day they begin to experience symptoms, at the symptomatic testing trailer in the Health Services (Potter) parking lot.  Testing is available seven days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

Thank you to all members of our community for their efforts to keep URI healthy and safe.