To: Yale Research Community
From: Michael Crair, Vice Provost for Research
Subject: Updated Masking and Gathering Guidance
Wednesday, March 16, 2022
Dear Colleagues,
I write to follow up on last week’s campus-wide message regarding forthcoming masking and gathering policy updates scheduled to go into effect March 21, 2022.
As you will have read, masking will be optional except in the following settings:
- In classrooms and other instructional spaces: instructional spaces include teaching laboratories and studios but do not include research laboratories;
- On campus transit vehicles such as buses;
- In healthcare facilities such as Yale Health and Yale Medicine;
- In settings, such as indoor performances and athletic competitions, where university hosts or sponsors explicitly require all attendees to mask.
Additionally, university gatherings will proceed in accordance with revised health and safety guidelines and without the need for approval by the COVID Review Team (CRT), although the CRT remains available for consultation and guidance on health and safety measures, particularly for large events.
I urge you to carefully review these forthcoming changes. They do include the fact that masking is expected to become optional in research laboratory settings effective March 21. It is important to note that current masking guidance is still in effect until that time, and there are a number of circumstances in which masking will continue to be required beyond that date, including for those who have COVID-19 symptoms or test positive, are a close contact of someone who has tested positive, and/or have a university-sponsored exemption to vaccination. Masks will remain strongly encouraged for those who are fully vaccinated but have not yet received a booster, and community members should continue to carry masks for when they encounter spaces where masking is required or desirable.
As of March 21, we will adjust our current COVID-19 guidance in the research setting. Nonetheless, I encourage you to review that guidance, as much of it remains applicable including its emphasis of the importance of utilizing high-quality PPE where masking is required and obtaining vaccine boosters.
For requirements regarding human subjects research, please refer to the Yale Human Research Protection guidance available on the HRPP website and the policies implemented by the research site location.
Thank you, as ever, for all you do in support of our research mission. I hope you will join me in looking ahead with excitement as we move toward a full resumption of on-campus activities.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Crair, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Research