Dear UT Health San Antonio faculty, staff and learners:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has lowered its COVID-19 community level risk matrix for Bexar County to “Low.” Based on this information, UT Health San Antonio is adjusting campus safety guidelines to allow for the option to wear masks at any time effective March 14. This also applies to break rooms and offices in clinical facilities. However, patient care areas will continue to require masks. We encourage continued diligence to thoughtfully plan indoor meetings and food services. We also encourage continuing safety precautions with spring break travel and major events coming up, such as Fiesta and Easter celebrations.
Our infectious disease team is continuing to monitor the situation closely, especially with the subvariant BA.2 that has shown to spread more easily than the original strain causing COVID-19. We are extending the following actions out of an abundance of caution and to help keep our employees and learners safe:
- Monitor your symptoms BEFORE you come to work and school.
- Masks are optional to wear on campus, in break rooms and offices of clinical facilities. Patient care areas still require masks. Social distancing should be observed whenever possible.
- Thoughtfully plan in-person meetings and large events with respect to distancing and food offerings.
- Mission-critical domestic travel and campus visitors will continue to be allowed at the discretion of departmental leadership. International travel must be mission critical and will require approval of the respective dean and the International Oversight Committee. If international travel is necessary, a waiver request should be submitted to the International Oversight Committee a minimum of 30 days before the trip.
Thank you for your help in keeping our community safe. We will continue to adjust and update actions as conditions change and communicate accordingly.
Sincerely,
Andrea Marks
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer