Carnegie Mellon to require covid-19 boosters, tests, masks for spring semester

Carnegie Mellon University said Friday that it will require everyone who will be on campus for the spring semester to get a booster dose of the covid-19 vaccine.

In a letter to the campus community outlining covid protocols for the upcoming semester, university officials said they would provide further information on the timing of the requirement, how to enter the information in their online system and the exemption request process in January.

Officials urged those who are eligible to schedule booster shots during the holiday break, citing “preliminary indications” that boosters will protect against severe symptoms from the omicron variant.

Already this month, Carnegie Mellon said it has administered nearly 2,000 boosters.

All members of the campus community — regardless of vaccination status — also will be required to complete a covid-19 test in January. Testing will be available on campus, and at-home test kits will also be accepted.

Face covering requirements will remain in place for the start of the spring semester. School officials also encouraged people to wear masks in “high-risk situations throughout the break” before they return to campus.

This comes as the university also announced they are tweaking its academic calendar, moving the start day to January 18, later than in previous years.

“We will continue to monitor developments, particularly with the omicron variant, and will communicate any changes to the current course modality plans during the first week of January,” the letter said.

The letter — signed by Provost and Chief Academic Officer Jim Garrett, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Gina Casalegno and Vice President for Operations, Interim Vice President for Research and Covid-19 Coordinator Daryl Weinert — also reminded students of rules governing international travel ahead of the holiday break.