As you may know, New York City is currently experiencing a concurrent spike of several respiratory illnesses—COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). On December 9, the NYC Health Commissioner issued an advisory urging citizens to use high-quality masks when indoors and in crowded outdoor settings.
Please be assured that Pace’s Public Health Task Force is closely monitoring the developing spread of these illnesses. Here’s what you need to know as a member of the Pace Community to help keep your colleagues, classmates, and families healthy this winter:
-
Masks are recommended: One of the best ways to protect yourself and your community is to wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask when you are indoors and in crowded outdoor settings. KN95 masks are freely available to all members of the Pace Community; to get one, stop by any Security desk on any campus. To be clear: at this time masking is recommended, but not required.
-
Test for COVID-19: Free, rapid antigen COVID-19 tests are available for free to any member of the Pace Community. Stop by any Security Desk on any campus to pick one up. We recommend testing prior to leaving for winter break and prior to returning for the Spring 2023 semester.
-
Get vaccinated: Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting the highest levels of hospitalization from the flu in over a decade for this time of year. Protect yourself and those around you by heading over to University Health Care for this year's flu shot. All members of the Pace Community are encouraged to get vaccinated.
-
Get boosted: Updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters are now available for everyone 5 and older who received their most recent vaccine dose at least two months ago. The updated Pfizer booster is recommended for everyone 5 and older, and the updated Moderna booster for everyone 6 and older. You can choose which booster to get and the updated boosters are specifically designed to protect you against the omicron subvariants that account for nearly all recent infections in NYC.
As the Fall 2022 semester winds down, I’d like to thank the community for your continued dedication to safety practices and policies on Pace’s campuses. Our collective commitment to maintaining a healthy environment will continue to help keep each other, our families, and the Pace Community safe. Best of luck during the exam period and have a healthy and happy winter break.
