June 24, 2021
To the Dartmouth community,
This week, the town of Hanover suspended its remaining COVID-19 emergency public health ordinance, which means there are no longer any town masking or gathering restrictions. With the on-campus student vaccination rate now at an impressive 82% and the overall on-campus rate of vaccinated students and employees at 78%, we are able to roll back a significant number of pandemic restrictions.
As mentioned by Provost Joseph Helble in his Community Conversations webcast on Wednesday, beginning today:
*Those who are fully vaccinated and have no COVID-19-like symptoms are no longer required to wear a face covering indoors or outdoors.
Those who are not fully vaccinated will still be required to wear a face covering indoors until further notice but are not required to do so outdoors. Regardless of vaccination status, anyone with COVID-19-like symptoms must wear a face covering and should contact Axiom Medical or Dartmouth College Health Service. In addition to those situations in which face coverings are required, everyone is encouraged to continue wearing them if they feel more comfortable doing so. Please be respectful of one another's privacy and refrain from commenting on or questioning someone's masking status.
There will be a few locations on campus, such as Dick's House and the COVID-19 testing site, that will have individual masking polices posted because of the nature of their operations.
*All physical distancing requirements have been lifted, and most spaces on campus can return to full capacity. There are a small number of spaces that, because of suboptimal ventilation, will continue to have a lower capacity than they had before the pandemic. These spaces will be posted with signage. Tables and chairs will be returned throughout the summer and may not be immediately available.
*All event and gathering limits have been removed.
*Dining and eating restrictions have been lifted. Additional tables and chairs will be moved back into the Class of 1953 Commons on July 6 and 7.
*The "Take A Professor to Lunch" program will return this summer, with details to be announced in a separate message late next week.
*Zimmerman Fitness Center is now open to students, but may have reduced hours until Monday, June 28. Some spaces that are not quite ready, such as the mezzanine, should be accessible by the end of next week. Alumni Gym will be open to faculty and staff in mid-August.
*The Temperature and Self-Assessment screening (TSA) is no longer required.
These guidelines remain in effect:
*Most buildings will still be locked and require key card access until Aug. 1 when our operations have ramped up to support full access.
*Visitors will still be asked to register until Aug. 1 (please see https://covid.dartmouth.edu/visitor-guidance for more information).
*Unvaccinated individuals will be tested for COVID-19 twice a week; vaccinated people will be tested every 30 days (or more frequently, if they prefer).
*Overnight guests are not permitted in undergraduate residence halls until Aug. 1.
*Unvaccinated students who arrived this week for summer term are still required to complete their arrival quarantine.
We are excited about these welcome changes as the new term begins, and grateful for the patience and fortitude of our community. It is thanks to you that we now can move forward together.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa V. Adams
Josh Keniston
Dartmouth COVID-19 Task Force Co-Chairs