February 5, 2021

To the Dartmouth community,

We write with a few new updates regarding COVID-19 safety precautions and New Hampshire travel regulations.

TAKEAWAYS:
-A reminder of the most effective use of face coverings
-New Hampshire has revised its guidance on travel quarantine.
-Dartmouth is maintaining its surveillance testing protocol in accordance with state requirements.

DOES IT FIT YOUR FACE?
As you know, Dartmouth has a face-covering policy to protect the health and safety of our community. Evidence continues to show that wearing a face covering is important in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Some types of masks are more effective than others. For example, neck gaiters, bandanas, and other single-layer cloth masks are not acceptable. Our face-covering policy requires that cloth masks have at least two layers and should be cleaned frequently.

The full guidelines of our face-covering policy are here. To help students and employees comply with all aspects of our masking policy, we will be making disposable masks available, free of charge, at the surveillance testing site in Thompson Arena. These disposable masks should be worn for only one day and properly disposed of in the trash after being worn.

NEW STATE TRAVEL QUARANTINE GUIDELINES
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has changed its quarantine guidance for those who are within 90 days of a positive COVID-19 test and for those who are two weeks beyond their second vaccine dose.

Updates to Dartmouth policies include the following:

-All Dartmouth students and employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days no longer need to observe travel quarantine during that 90-day period, following completion of their isolation period, if they must travel outside of their allowed area and then return to campus. For undergraduates, this allowed area is the states of New Hampshire and Vermont, and for others the allowed area is New England. Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days will continue to be exempt from surveillance testing.

-Similarly, those who are two weeks beyond their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are also exempt from travel quarantine outside of New Hampshire, Vermont (undergraduates only), or New England. However, those who have been vaccinated are still expected to participate in surveillance testing because at this time we do not yet know definitively whether the vaccine prevents asymptomatic infection and potential for transmission of the virus. Such data may become available in the coming months; if so, we will review and make any appropriate changes to our protocols.

-For everyone in both of these groups, the need to quarantine after contact with someone with COVID-19 will be determined by a discussion with a clinician from either Dick's House or Axiom Medical.

-Individuals in either group may require testing if they develop symptoms, following evaluation by a health provider.

Please note that these are New Hampshire regulations. Vermont residents must follow their own state travel quarantine guidelines. At this time, all non-essential travel to and from Vermont requires quarantine. Even if you have been vaccinated, recovered from COVID-19, or have gotten a positive antibody test, you must quarantine when you travel or return to Vermont under their current travel guidelines. More information.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us to help keep our community healthy and safe. Whether it's skating on the Green or snowshoeing in your own backyard, we hope you are finding ways to have fun and enjoy winter in the Upper Valley. It's important to get outside, exercise, and embrace the season as we wait out this pandemic.