Dear campus community,

In recent weeks, cases of COVID-19 across the region and state have increased significantly. This past week, Michigan experienced two consecutive days where it registered more than 6,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day — the highest that case count has been since December. Today, Michigan has reported 8,413 new cases in a single day.

Wayne State remains committed to following the latest data to guide our response to the pandemic. As you may recall from previous communications, part of this includes monitoring a series of trigger metrics to inform our decisions related to campus operations. While campus cases are low and the positivity rate on campus is well within our metrics, the 7-day positivity rate in the city, as reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, has exceeded our trigger metric of 15 percent. Thus, the numbers in the region have increased to the point where we must now take measures to temporarily, significantly reduce the number of people on campus.

Unless the regional case numbers fall within the acceptable range according to our metrics in the next three days, effective Wednesday, April 7, 2021, and continuing for the next 10 days:

All on-campus, face-to-face instruction is suspended. The only exception is for clinical rotations in the licensed health professions in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the College of Nursing, and the School of Medicine.
All athletics practices and competitions are suspended. Teams may resume practice after 10 days if 80 percent or more of the individuals on the team have received their full COVID-19 vaccination.
Laboratory research units must take steps to reduce current time on-site activity for authorized personnel by 25 percent effective April 7th, 2021, and prepare a contingency plan for an additional reduction of time on-site as the current situation evolves this coming week. This reduced level of current time on-site does not apply to fully vaccinated individuals currently involved with authorized on-site research activities. Refer to the research website for information updates and further guidance.
Guest access to student housing is restricted. Students currently living in campus housing are permitted to continue doing so, and must continue to follow all campus health and safety guidelines.
Towers Café will move to take-out only dining.
Campus libraries remain open but may be subject to increased restrictions.
The Mort Harris Recreation and Fitness Center is closed except for COVID-19 testing.
The Student Center Building is closed except for individuals attending the vaccine clinic.
The W Food Pantry remains open, and will facilitate technology loans for students in need.
With the exception of critical infrastructure employees, those who can work effectively from home should do so.

In 10 days, we will re-examine metrics on campus, in the region and across the state. If the situation has improved, we will re-engage the activities that have been suspended. If the metrics continue to show heightened levels, we will extend this period of limited on-campus activities accordingly. Please monitor your communications and the Wayne State coronavirus website for follow-up information, or contact your supervisor with specific questions.

As of April 5, all Michigan adults are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. While Wayne State has not mandated vaccines, we encourage all members of the campus community to be vaccinated. This is our best path toward ending the pandemic and returning to normalcy in the coming months.

Thank you for your continued commitment to the health and safety of our campus.

Regards,

M. Roy Wilson
President