COVID-19 Fall Deadlines and Checklist

*Published on August 18, 2021*

Dear Northeastern Students,

As we transition to a fully in-person fall term with all campus activities resuming, I want to share some important updates to help us maintain a safe and healthy environment for our university community. The university has announced in recent weeks that all students on our U.S. campuses are required to show proof of vaccination. In addition, indoor mask-wearing will resume on all of our campuses and weekly testing will resume on our U.S. campuses, effective when students move into university housing or on September 6 for students not in university housing.

Please make note of these important dates and action items:

• Deadline: September 6: Complete the updated Expectations for Return to Campus Attestation form. The form includes updated protocols. Every student is required to complete this form by September 6.
• Your First Day on Campus: Get Tested for COVID-19. Students moving into university housing should schedule a test the day they arrive on campus. Other students on U.S. campuses should begin their testing cadence the week of September 6 and will need a negative test before they attend class in-person.
  Boston-based students will use the COVID-19 Test Scheduler to schedule their tests and can look at the Cabot Testing Center hours of operation for planning purposes. First-time testers can refer to our Guide to First-Time Testing on the Boston Campus for a step-by-step guide. Students on other U.S. campuses will receive information from their campus on how to schedule a test.
• Every day: Remember to complete the Daily Wellness Check every day you are on campus.

Quarantine and Isolation for Vaccinated Individuals

As we resume regular surveillance testing, we expect to see some positive cases even among the fully vaccinated. We’ll follow public health guidance in handling these cases.

• If a vaccinated individual tests positive they will need to isolate, regardless of their vaccination status. Isolation typically lasts for 10 days but the exact duration is determined by a healthcare provider based on the person’s symptoms.
• If a vaccinated individual is exposed to someone with COVID-19, they are not required to quarantine but should monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and wear a mask indoors for 14 days following their exposure. (This is the same as being identified as being a “close contact.”)

Continue using the Daily Wellness Check to report symptoms, positive tests, or exposure, and our COVID-19 Wellness Team will guide you on the next steps. Wellness housing is available for students who need to isolate or quarantine. Throughout their isolation period, students will have access to our Northeastern wellness team and a telehealth team that calls daily to check on their health.

Additional Dates and To-Do Items

• Deadline: August 27 to Submit Documentation to Support Exemption requests. August 15 was the deadline to submit the Vaccine Verification form, available on services.northeastern.edu/wellness. Students should submit the form immediately if they haven’t already done so. Students who requested a medical or religious exemption will need to upload documentation to support their request before August 27.
• If Primarily Remote: Update your COVID-19 Test Scheduler Status. Everyone affiliated with the Boston campus, including fully vaccinated individuals, is listed as Primarily In-Person in the COVID-19 Test Scheduler. If you have remote learner status or are enrolled in a fully online program, visit the Test Scheduler to change your status from Primarily In-Person to Primarily Remote.

Thank you for helping us make a safe and healthy transition to the new academic term. If you have any questions, please check our COVID-19 FAQs or contact NUCovid19Qs@northeastern.edu.

Madeleine Estabrook
Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs