Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members,

We are writing with a brief update on our collective and ongoing efforts to minimize the effects of COVID-19 on the campus community. 

We continue to closely monitor transmission rates in Delaware County and the region more broadly. For the past several weeks, the average number of positive cases and hospitalizations in and around the area had been declining. However, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the area’s seven-day average for case counts and hospitalizations has increased during the past few days, which is a good reminder that we must continue to adhere to our COVID-19 policies and safety protocols. 

Fortunately, cases and transmission rates on campus remain extremely low. Our masking and vaccination policies have proven to be effective ways to limit the spread of COVID-19 on campus. In fact, we haven’t seen a single case of COVID-19 transmission on campus when our masking requirements are being followed. Thanks to all of you who continue to play an important role in keeping the campus community healthy and safe.

We are looking ahead to the spring semester. Our hope and expectation is that, as the situation around the pandemic continues to improve in our area, we will be able to revisit some of the policies currently in place, such as how often we require individuals to test. We will continue to communicate with you about those changes and updates as they happen.

We know that many of you have questions about COVID-19 booster shots. At this time, we are not requiring individuals to get booster shots, though we strongly encourage those of you who are eligible for a booster to get one. The CDC has information on who is currently eligible to receive a booster shot, and appointments are readily available at many nearby pharmacies. We are also looking into holding booster clinics on campus once the CDC expands its criteria, and we will keep you updated on those developments.

As always, if you have questions about the College’s COVID-19 protocols and policies, you can visit our COVID-19 information site or email covid19@swarthmore.edu. 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we wish those of you who are traveling a safe journey, and all of you a happy, healthy, and relaxing break ahead of the conclusion of the fall semester.

Take care,

Members of the COVID-19 Planning Group