Dear U-M Ann Arbor Community Member,
After weeks of declining COVID-19 cases in our region, we’re now seeing a trend of case counts increasing both on campus and in the wider community. Many of these cases can be linked to unmasked social gatherings.
Additionally, the spread of the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron has grown to represent more than half of cases in the midwest region. This is significant because the new subvariant appears to be more transmissible than the BA.1 subvariant previously circulating widely in our community.
With only a month of classes remaining, now is the time for our community to finish the winter semester strong. And we can do this through a few simple acts of prevention and protection. Here’s what you can do:
- Monitor for symptoms by using the ResponsiBLUE tool each day. If you have any symptoms, mask up and get tested right away.
- Pick up a free box of at-home antigen tests at any central or north campus CSTP site beginning Monday, April 4. Be sure to bring your M-Card.
- Traveling? Get tested for COVID-19 before you go and when you return.
- Consider wearing a mask for large indoor gatherings, or move your gathering outdoors.
- Remember to cover your coughs and sneezes, and to wash your hands frequently.
For the latest information and updates related to COVID-19, please visit the Campus Maize and Blueprint: https://campusblueprint.umich.edu/.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Ernst
Associate Vice President of Student Life
Director of Campus COVID Response
Preeti Malani
Chief Health Officer