UPDATES - Laboratory-based research activities on-campus: Current evolving pandemic situation – awareness, preparedness and pause of defined on-site activities November 22, 2020 Dear Colleagues – We are entering another critical period with respect to the pandemic and we must keep in mind the priority focus on the health and well-being of all involved. As we have all taken this journey together over the past 8 months, all have adjusted to the new environment and I greatly appreciate everyone stepping up to do the right thing. Because of your commitment and efforts to align with the established parameters for on-site activities, the labs and research programs have managed, albeit at a reduced level of on-site activity, to operationalize effectively over the past several months. The full engagement of the research community has been the key to success during this period and we need to stay steady as we go into the next few weeks and through the winter with a vaccine on the horizon. As noted in my communication on Sunday, November 15 and in the memo from President Wilson on Monday, November 16, the university has taken a series of next steps to manage the current surge of COVID-19 infection in the region and in response to the directives from the Michigan Governor’s Office. Relative to currently authorized research activities and in accordance with institutional and regional considerations in a period of heightened alert, we are taking a few targeted steps as indicated below for a two-week period to pause any expansion of on-campus research activities and to adapt to the current continuing increases in COVID-19 infection rate and the associated impacts on hospital occupancy. Effective for two weeks beginning Monday, November 23 through December 7:
Implementation of the items listed above is essential if we are to be prepared for any further reduction in on-site activities as the current situation evolves. If the current pandemic situation further amplifies through continued increases in COVID-19 infectivity rate or hospital occupancy and in accordance with local, regional and national directives and the university guideline metrics in this regard, additional steps will likely be necessary to further pause or decrease currently authorized, on-campus laboratory research activities. Hopefully, we will manage through the current situation and hold steadily forward with the potential vaccine on the horizon - however, I cannot overemphasize the importance of always being prepared. Many of the key principles involved in the initial framework established for a phased resumption of on-site activities are also relevant for effective and safe management of laboratory activities during a pause or ramp-down period - please review “Principles and Guidelines for a Phased Ramp-Up of On-site, Laboratory-based Research Activities” https://research.wayne.edu/coronavirus/rampupguidance Be cognizant not only of your immediate laboratory environment, but also of your colleagues and all of the staff that have made the commitments to allow us to function over the past several months. If the current pandemic situation further amplifies through continued increases in COVID-19 infectivity rate or hospital occupancy and in accordance with local, regional and national directives and the university metrics for action steps, additional steps will be necessary to further decrease currently authorized, on-campus laboratory research activities. As always, please contact me directly with any thoughts and questions as we go forward to be sure that we have all the bases covered as situations arise. Steve
Please monitor the sites below for updates.
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