New guidance for face masks
Anyone physically present on campus must wear a mask that fully covers their mouth and nose at all times, unless they are alone in an individual closed office space or are outside and able to keep at least six feet between themselves and other people they do not live with. Requirements for wearing masks on the Danforth Campus have been updated to specify the types of masks that should be worn.
Emerging evidence suggests that gaiters and bandanas might not be effective, so the requirements have been changed to indicate that at this time gaiters, bandanas and any masks with valves are not adequate and should not be worn.
Read the full Danforth Campus mask requirements to learn more.
Reminder: Self-screening required for everyone coming to campus, every time
All Danforth Campus students, faculty and staff must complete and pass a daily health self-screening prior coming onto campus or leaving their residence hall room each day. The self-screening tool is available at screening.wustl.edu.
If an individual does not pass the daily self-screening, they must not leave their room or come to campus and must immediately contact Habif Health and Wellness Center at 314-935-6666 (students) or Occupational Health at 314-362-5056 (faculty and staff).
For information about the screening process for approved visitors, please see the Danforth Campus Visitor Protocol.
2,000 volunteers needed to evaluate rapid COVID-19 saliva test
Washington University is seeking 2,000 university employees or students to volunteer for a study to evaluate the feasibility of large-scale, rapid COVID-19 saliva testing. An earlier pilot run of the saliva test involved 500 volunteers. The new study will assess the ability to test a large number of people for COVID-19 and return positive results.
The test uses a saliva sample that is collected by spitting in a vial. The research study has been approved by Washington University’s Institutional Review Board, and volunteers will need to sign a consent form to participate.
To volunteer for the study, visit a screening site:
- Medical Campus, at employee screening tables
— Aug. 18, beginning at 6 a.m., Shell Café, Mid Campus Center (link level) and the BJC Institute of Health (street level).
— Aug. 19, beginning at 6 a.m., Center for Advanced Medicine; the building at 4444 Forest Park Avenue; and BJC Institute of Health (street level). - Danforth Campus
— Aug. 18 and 19, 10:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., Anheuser Busch Hall.
This information is also available on the School of Medicine website.
Achieve health, wellness goals with MyWay to Health
MyWay to Health, a program of the Center for Healthy Weight and Wellness at the School of Medicine, has teamed up with our employee wellness program, Wellness Connection, to provide expert advice and accountability to help you take charge of your well-being. A holistic approach focuses on nutrition, weight management, sleep, stress and physical activity. Participants can take advantage of four free sessions annually, and first-time participants can earn a $75 Visa Gift Card reward! Learn more and schedule a session on the Wellness Connection website.
Part of the program is a series of virtual Wellness Workshops, with the next one taking us back into the kitchen — virtually! The session “Cooking with Whole Grains” will take place at noon Wednesday, Sept. 16, and will highlight the nutrition benefits and culinary versatility of whole grains while showcasing simple, delicious recipes to try at home. Register for the Zoom event here, or view the recording and recipe handouts after at your convenience through the MyWay to Health Microsoft Teams Channel. If you need assistance, email MyWaytoHealth@wustl.edu.
Wide open spaces
Danforth Campus common spaces look and feel different as the academic year begins. Places like the Danforth University Center, for example, have spaced out tables and added plexiglas partitions throughout the facility. To view other examples on how life on campus has changed as the students return, visit the Record’s pictorial feature, “The View From Here.”