We hope that everyone has been enjoying a great summer. As we welcome those new and returning to campus for the upcoming year, we are writing to update you on protocols related to COVID-19 for the fall semester. Over the summer, we have continued to meet and consult across our community and with our partners at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Mandatory testing and classroom masking mandates on campus were lifted, and testing was consolidated at one PennCares location at 3734 Spruce Street.
We strongly encourage everyone who is arriving on the Penn campus for the fall semester to self-test at home before arrival. PennOpen Pass will be discontinued and will no longer be required to access campus buildings or available for any other purposes. However, we will continue to provide PennCares testing at 3734 Spruce Street for members of the Penn community who are symptomatic or have recently been exposed, and the testing center also now offers at-home antigen tests.
Masks are recommended in indoor public settings for individuals with underlying medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to severe disease. As classes begin at the end of the month, instructors have the option to require masking in their classrooms and teaching spaces and should communicate that requirement in their course syllabus.
The University’s comprehensive FAQs are your best resource for any questions, and we will continue to update them throughout the semester. UPHS-affiliated faculty and staff should follow specific guidance from the Health System. As the semester progresses, we will continue to consult across our community, remain prepared for any future circumstances, and follow guidance from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
We look forward to seeing all of you back on campus in the weeks ahead.