Guidance Update from Animal Care on COVID-19
March 20, 2020


Dear Research Colleagues,

We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic is a very difficult situation for all of us and would like to assure you that our Animal Care team is committed to protecting the health and well-being of the staff and animals that are entrusted to us. We are also committed to maintaining your research efforts as much as we possibly can during this crisis.

Some of the decisions that we are being forced to take collectively are going to be very difficult. We are working closely with our University Emergency Operations Committee to respond appropriately to rapidly changing scenarios and will provide updates as the situation evolves.

Below are several important updates and recommendations on how we must manage research projects now. With new directives continually being issued by Local, State and Federal authorities, our Animal Care Unit has been working with peer institutions and national agencies to develop a Phased Approach to manage this emergency situation.

Please note that we are in Phase II and must now implement some actions of Phase III in order to maintain Rutgers’ ability to support animal research in the long term. 

Sincerely,

S. David Kimball, Senior Vice President for Research & Economic Development
Jeetendra Eswaraka, Assistant Vice President, Animal Care

With support from:
Christopher J. Molloy, Chancellor, Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Brian L. Strom, Chancellor, Rutgers Biomedical & Health Sciences
Nancy Cantor, Chancellor, Rutgers University-Newark
Phoebe A. Haddon, Chancellor, Rutgers University-Camden
PHASE I (Completed)
Notification of emergency, Federal and University guidance on emergency preparedness; Staffing at 100% levels
  • Detailed assessment for securing critical supplies
  • Stop all animal imports from overseas
  • Stop all large animal orders
  • Stop scheduling of large animal surgeries
  • Request researchers to delay animal experiments
PHASE II (Current Status)
Community spread of infection, reduced workforce, local government and University guidance; Staff reduction to 75%
  • All non-essential employees to work remotely
  • Stop all animal orders and imports from within the country
  • Work with researchers to develop lab continuity plans to support husbandry operations
  • Research labs should identify cages for critical experiments
  • Research staff to be trained on husbandry tasks
  • Request labs to reconsider breeding of animals to keep animal numbers low
  • Stop survival surgeries
  • Split/staggered schedules to reduce staff interaction and maintain social distancing
  • Cancel all one-on-one training
  • Conserve PPE
  • Make changes to husbandry schedules as needed
Our top priority is to operate in this state for as long as possible, deploying as much of our collective resources as are available. To maintain this status, we will have to immediately take some steps in Phase III (marked in red ) to accomplish this. 
PHASE III
Mass quarantine or curfew, University shutdown or restricted access rules; Staff support below 50% due to sickness, self-quarantine, etc.
  • Stop all animal breeding of commercially available animals and USDA regulated species
  • Breeding of rodents should be restricted to only those animals that are required to maintain a rare genotype
  • Separate males and females
  • Labs to stop new experiments, complete ongoing experiments
  • For critical experiments, provide justification for staff to be onsite to be approved by your chair and Vice Chancellor for Research
  • Identify animals up to 20% of current caging capacity for “critical save” only, or essential genetic lines to maintain minimal breeding cages. Supervisors will work with PIs to identify and tag these cages
  • Census activities will be stopped to focus on animal care
  • Billing issues will be resolved later when normalcy returns
PHASE IV
Feed and bedding procurement has hit critical threshold, medicines for treatment are in short supply; Staff levels below 30%
  • Veterinarians and vet techs resources will be diverted to Animal Care
  • No veterinary support for IACUC-related functions
  • Animals that need treatment are to be euthanized
  • Reduce animal numbers to only those identified as “critical save” by PI and research staff
PHASE V
No additional food or bedding available; Staff levels at 10% or below
  • Skeleton crew onsite
  • Euthanize remaining animals
Thank you for your cooperation.