April COVID-19 Updates

Dear Campus Community,

As we navigate together the next stages of living with COVID, it is important to continue communicating with each other. Mask optional has opened up a sense of moving forward, but some risk remains and being diligent in using the tools we have available to us is important.

PLU cases have steadily declined and remained flat and Pierce County is currently rated as low community level by the CDC.

Maintaining these lower levels depends a lot on communicating with each other about what you are comfortable with and being respectful of other people’s choices. Consider wearing a mask when appropriate and take into account the community and environment you are in when making this decision. If you wish to use a mask they are widely available on campus.We want to extend our culture of care at PLU into a specific request that we normalize communication with people around us regarding wearing masks or not. At no time should anyone be judged or treated differently for their choice to protect themself by wearing a mask or their choice to not.

It is important that community members continue to hold themselves accountable to monitoring their health. Stay home when you are sick or experiencing symptoms, get tested and stay-up-to-date with your vaccine. We are happy to report that 1,396 vaccine doses were administered at clinics at PLU .

Testing remains an impactful option in preventing the spread of COVID. Along with rapid testing Tuesdays and Thursdays in the AUC and PCR testing available in the Health Center parking lot Monday through Friday, we have take-home rapid tests available.

Some of those take-home tests have been distributed to residence halls. If you would like a take home test you can get one at residence hall front desks, Olson Gym, Columbia Center, and in the AUC at the Old Main Market, the Cave or the d Center. Tests are available for pick-up before the Easter weekend (while supplies last).

This new era is marked by the reality that we are safely able to lift measures around masking while acknowledging that we will continue to live with the covid virus into the foreseeable future, as we transition to an endemic stage.

The COVID-19 Task Force is aware of the changes in mitigation policies in other parts of the country and will continue to monitor the situation with our community health partners for as long as necessary. We will adapt to any future guidance should face masks be required again.

In community,

Teri Phillips
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
COVID-19 Site Supervisor

Shawn Thompson
Associate Director of Emergency Programs
COVID-19 Task Force Coordinator

Michelle Ceynar
Dean of Social Sciences
Professor of Psychology

Mike Snyder
Director of Athletics and Recreation

Chris Albert
Director of Web Development & Design