Booster deadline is just days away
The deadline for all University faculty, researchers, staff and students to receive a COVID booster shot is approaching rapidly. Everyone is required to receive a booster by Monday, January 31 (or 30 days after they become eligible).
Students must upload booster proof to MyUHS and employees must upload proof to VacStatus.
The University will hold two more booster clinics at Jadwin gym: a Moderna clinic from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, January 28, and a Pfizer clinic from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, January 31.
Booster vaccines are also available at several pharmacies and clinics in and around Princeton. See the state's Vaccine Appointment Finder or vaccines.gov to find a clinic.
The COVID Connector hotline is open for extended hours this week, from 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 609-258-7000. The hotline email address, to which questions may submitted any time, is covidconnector@princeton.edu.
Mask distribution, student arrival protocols
UPDATE, January 24, 2022 —EHS is supplying KN95s to students at various locations.
Residential College offices: weekdays 11 am to 4 pm
Graduate College Porter’s Lounge: weekdays 11 am to 4 pm
Lakeside Apartment Main Office: regular business hours
Up to 10 per person. Cannot pick up masks for another person. Must show valid student ID.
For faculty, staff, and for graduate student use in labs and campus offices, departments supply the masks. Departments may order KN95 masks through EHS at cost, which is .53 per mask, using the COVID-19 PPE and Supply Request Form. KN95 masks are found under the category “Eye and Face.”
For a quick guide to KN95s versus other types of face coverings, see the EHS graphic Hierarchy of Protectiveness of Masks.
UPDATE, Dec. 27, 2021 — Princeton University has released updated protocols for a gradual return of undergraduate students to campus after Winter Break. New guidance has also been issued to graduate students. These changes reflect the University's primary goal of maintaining in-person classroom instruction and co-curricular activities, including varsity athletics, while also supporting the physical and mental health of the University community.
- Undergraduate students may return to campus no earlier than January 14, one week later than the previously announced January 7 return date.
- The University now requires undergraduates to register their return so that they can be re-entered into the campus testing protocol and ensure compliance.
- Hardship Funds will be available to some undergraduate students who incur costs as a result of this change. Students may submit an application to the Fund; they will be notified the week of January 3.
- All undergraduates and graduate students must submit a COVID test sample as soon as possible on their return to campus. Note: graduate students arriving between Dec. 29 and Jan. 2 should plan on submitting their sample on Monday, Jan. 3, when the testing lab reopens.
- Students must receive a negative test result before attending their first in-person class or activity.
- For the full return-to-campus timetable and protocol, visit the Arrivals page.
All undergraduate and graduate students must receive a booster and update their vaccination information in MyUHS by Monday, January 31, or 30 days after they become eligible. See the Student Requirement page for details.
If you have tested positive for COVID
- If you are participating in the University's asymptomatic testing program and receive a positive COVID result, please check the updated guidance issued to students and employees in emails from covidtests@princeton.edu on Jan. 13.
- If you receive a positive COVID result outside of the on-campus testing program, email the Global and Community Health Team at communityhealth@princeton.edu to inform them of your result.
- Please attach proof of your positive result to your email.
- Do not call. The Team will be in touch with you as soon as they can.
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If you have previously tested positive for COVID and have received an official 90-day exemption from participation in asymptomatic testing from Global and Community Health, you do not have to do a test upon arrival back on campus.You should resume testing at the conclusion of your 90-day exemption period.
University limits certain gatherings, shifts to remote undergrad exams; Boosters to be required
UPDATE, January 4, 2022 — Due to a recent increase in cases among undergraduates on campus, the entire Princeton community must cancel or postpone all indoor gatherings with food and those where face coverings can’t be worn, effective through at least mid-February, unless conditions change. That is an extension from the previously announced end date of January 31.
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Testing Absences
All employees should use the testing absence form for time that they will be away from campus and unable to participate in the asymptomatic testing program. This form takes 15 seconds to complete and is essential to ensuring compliance with the University’s testing requirements. Testing absence forms can be completed for multi-week absences and do not have to be resubmitted on a weekly basis.
New Off-Site Testing Clinic
For those in need of off-campus testing, the Princeton Health Department has opened a new testing site at 237 N. Harrison Street (the old Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad building next to the Princeton Shopping Center). Hours are M-F 9am-6pm, and 10am-3pm on Saturdays. The clinic accepts walk-ins and appointments, and availability is reported to be high.
Vaccination clinics added in January
The University will continue to host Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccination clinics through January at Jadwin gym.
Appointments are given priority and walk-ins are welcome and will be accommodated; however, walk-ins should be prepared for long wait times outdoors.
- Appointments can be made through the New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS) or by calling (855) 568-0545 from 8 am – 8pm, 7 days a week
Pfizer Clinics
- Monday, Jan. 31, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., adults/boosters*
Moderna Clinics
- Friday, Jan. 28, noon to 4 p.m., adults/boosters*
*Available: booster shots and first, second, and (for people severely immunocompromised as per the CDC) third doses.
Questions or Concerns
- If you have difficulties making an appointment, contact NJVSS at 855-568-0545 from 8am- 8pm, 7 days a week
- If you have further questions, send an email to covidvaccines@princeton.edu.
- You may also call the University's COVID Connector telephone support line. Customer service agents are available at 609-258-7000 during University business hours from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.
COVID Dashboard
The University's COVID-19 dashboard provides daily and weekly updates of positive cases reported by University Health Services from asymptomatic and symptomatic testing, as well as weekly isolation and quarantine reports. Daily reports are typically updated by 10 a.m., weekly reports by 5 p.m. on Monday or, after a Monday holiday, on Tuesday. Information is also provided on vaccination rates for students, faculty and staff.
For an explanation of risk status, visit the Campus Risk Status page.
Hover over the below windows with a mouse (on desktop) or tap (on mobile) to see control bar and browse all data. Click the box icon on far right to view full screen.
COVID Connector hours extended
The COVID Connector hotline — 609-258-7000 — is operating on extended hours this first week of the semester.
Wednesday: Until 8 pm
Thursday: 8:45am – 8:00pm
Friday: 8:45am-8:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: No hours
Starting Monday 1/31: Back to 8:45am-5:00pm
Face-Covering Policies
The current policy requiring all members of the campus community, whether fully vaccinated or not, to wear face coverings indoors will continue until further notice. As of November 27, 2021, for the remainder of the fall term, masks should be worn in all teaching and learning contexts. As permitted all semester, instructors who can maintain six feet or more of distance from students can, at their own discretion, teach without face coverings.
University COVID News
Anticipating that our need for isolation space will exceed the capacity of the University’s designated isolation facilities, some students who test positive for COVID-19 will be instructed to isolate in their dormitory or apartment starting today.
Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, we anticipate an increased number of positive test results as students return to campus. It is thus likely that your results will be available through the TigerSafe app before Global and Community Health at UHS is able to reach you by phone to notify you that you tested positive.
To reduce the strain on the asymptomatic testing program as students return to campus for the beginning of the term, we are requesting that staff who can conduct their work remotely begin doing so, and remove themselves from the campus asymptomatic testing program, by January 10 and continue through January 31.