02/11/2021
By Lauren Turner

As the university’s on-campus population increases, so too is UMass Lowell’s COVID-19 surveillance testing program. Any employee who will be working, living or learning on campus is encouraged to join the weekly program and take the non-invasive test to help prevent and contain the spread of the disease among campus community members.

However, it is important to remember that even after a negative COVID-19 test, any employee who feels ill — whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or other symptoms — should not come to campus.

Every day before coming to campus, all employees should complete the daily symptom checklist. If you are experiencing any of the listed COVID-19 symptoms, employees should:

  • Stay home
  • Contact their supervisors, and
  • Email the COVID-19 HR Response Team at COVID19HR@uml.edu or call 978-934-3557
  • Employees should also stay home if deemed a close contact by public health contact tracers.

The university has extended benefits, including COVID-19-related leave from work through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, through March 31.

Staying home when ill is just as critical as other university COVID risk mitigation efforts, including wearing face coverings on campus, socially distancing, washing hands regularly and regularly wiping down shared spaces in the office.

The campuswide commitment to reducing risk is why our campus was so successful with mitigating spread last semester and with more people on campus it is even more important we all remain committed to our shared responsibility to keep our campus and community safe for ourselves and for each other.