Dear UT Health San Antonio faculty, staff, students, residents and fellows:
Due to continued concerns with the highly infectious COVID delta variant, temporary precautionary measures are being imposed effective immediately.
Business Travel
Business travel will be suspended through October 5. Deans and vice presidents will assess the critical need for previously planned and upcoming trips. At their discretion, deans or vice presidents may approve exceptions in cases where a vital humanitarian or business function will be harmed by not traveling. Travel exceptions approved by deans and vice presidents do not need to be routed to the Chief Operating Officer for further approval. Out-of-pocket expenses incurred for canceled business trips can be reimbursed.
In-Person Meetings
Virtual meetings should be conducted whenever possible through October 5. If in-person meetings are necessary, individuals should mask and social distance. No communal food should be provided at meetings. Communal eating in common areas and break rooms is discouraged. Individually boxed lunches are still allowed, but maintaining social distance while eating is critical.
Campus Visitors
Campus visitors should be limited to critical business functions and are expected to mask. Examples of critical business functions include recruitments in the final stage and visits by outside vendors that are needed to maintain scientific or other equipment. Also, in-person events held on campus should be limited; conferences, retreats and other gatherings should be held virtually as much as possible through October 5. Appropriate masking and social distancing should be conducted during all in-person events and no communal food should be provided.
We are following the COVID surge carefully and will provide timely updates as the threat of COVID transmission changes.
Sincerely,
Andrea Marks
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer