Dear Wayne State community,

With the Thanksgiving break approaching, we are all eager to gather with family and friends and celebrate the things for which we are grateful; however, this holiday season takes place in the midst of a pandemic. As President Wilson pointed out in the below video, cases of COVID-19 continue to increase, and it is important that we enjoy our holidays with an emphasis on safety.

The Public Health Subcommittee is sending this update to provide information about the current campus situation and how Warriors can prevent the spread of COVID-19 as the holidays approach.

Although we have not hit the trigger metrics that would require a partial or complete campus closure, the increasing number of COVID-19 cases on campus — as well as those throughout the city and state — makes it likely that we will hit one or more of them sometime this semester. While we are not yet at a state of “heightened alert,” the Public Health Subcommittee is preparing for trends in that direction.
The majority of COVID-19 cases on campus have been associated with off-campus activities, particularly small indoor gatherings where people are not wearing face coverings. We strongly recommend that you do not participate in any indoor gathering that does not include people in your immediate household. Please continue to follow campus safety guidelines and comply with all mandates from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
As families gather for Thanksgiving, we expect that the spread of the virus will continue. We encourage you to plan carefully for any holiday gatherings and take the proper precautions to ensure health and safety. Guidance for students from Gov. Whitmer’s office about holiday safety is included in the recommendations attached; we encourage students to read that section of the recommendations and plan accordingly.
For students who wish to remain on campus during the Thanksgiving break, Wayne State’s housing facilities are making the following accommodations:
- All residence halls and apartments will remain open during the Thanksgiving recess and maintain 24/7 staff at all front desks.
- Resident advisors and community directors will remain on duty throughout the Thanksgiving break to assist residents.
- Towers Café will remain open during the five-day recess to assist residents who have meal plans at no additional cost. Towers Café will serve daily meals, including Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26.
- Specific information will come from Housing shortly.

Although this holiday season will be different, we hope the Warrior community has an enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving break. We remain committed to the health and safety of the campus community and will continue to provide updates on the situation as they are available.

Thank you for your cooperation, and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Laurie M. Lauzon Clabo, PhD, RN, FAAN
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Chair, Public Health Subcommittee