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Rockefeller University

This message was sent to the Rockefeller community from the Office of the Executive Vice President on February 18, 2022 at 2:55 p.m.
Subject: COVID-19 policy updates

Dear members of the Rockefeller community,

The rapid decline of COVID cases since the Omicron peak in the first week of January has continued in NYC and, after a bit of a stall last week, at Rockefeller as well. Although the 14-day lookback metric declined only slightly this week, there have only been two new cases at Rockefeller in the past seven days. This is very encouraging news and, as a result, the plan for the first phase of relaxing the indoor mask mandate will resume. Effective Tuesday, February 22, employees and students will be allowed to remove face masks while in their work areas. Face masks will continue to be required in all other shared indoor areas of the campus and face covering is required at all times for guests and visitors.

  • For those working in labs, this means that starting on February 22, face masks will no longer be mandatory while working in your lab. Face masks will continue to be required in any shared and common spaces indoors.
  • For those working in office spaces, this means that starting on February 22, face masks will no longer be required while working in spaces dedicated to your department and unit that are separated by a closed door from common spaces (like corridors).
  • Exceptions to the waiver of the mask mandate (e.g., The Child and Family Center and patientcare areas) will be communicated separately to those involved.
  • Of course, anyone can opt to continue wearing a mask and we strongly encourage everyone to keep a mask on hand for circumstances in which it is prudent to don one.
  • A FAQ document has been posted here with more details.
  • For additional guidance about specific spaces, please send inquiries to restart@rockefeller.edu

Although there is currently great variability in mask mandate policies across the city, state and nation, the overall context of operations at the university justifies this step. That context includes not only the decline in new cases, to near zero, but also a community that is 100% vaccinated and over 87% boosted, continued requirements for daily health attestations and weekly testing (with twice weekly testing strongly encouraged) and lab environments with high rates of single-pass air ventilation (non-lab spaces on campus have also been modified to improve air ventilation).

It has been terrific to see people returning to seminars in Caspary and having in-person meetings and we remain hopeful for the trends to continue so that we can further relax university COVID policies.

For planning purposes, another update will be provided no later than February 25.

If you have any questions, please send an email to restart@rockefeller.edu

Please take care of yourselves and each other,

Tim O’Connor

Executive Vice President, Rockefeller University