Waltham's Bentley University Ends Some COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Waltham MA

24 February, 2022

10:45 AM

Description

WALTHAM, MA — Bentley University in Waltham made changes to its COVID-19 protocols this week, including making masks optional in most places on campus and ending mandatory weekly screening testing for vaccinated undergraduate and residential students. The changes were made based on Massachusetts' overall vaccination rate and decline in both statewide and local case rates and hospitalization rates. "While COVID-19 is still very much a reality that requires our attention, we are in a better place today than we were when the Omicron wave was peaking one month ago, and certainly in a better place than we were one year ago before vaccines were widely available," said Bentley in a statement. "Now, our campus, and many surrounding communities, will begin to look ahead at the long-term management of the virus. Our policies and guidelines will strive to equally prioritize health, safety, wellbeing and the overall atmosphere of our campus community." The following changes have been made to Bentley's COVID-19 policies: Screening Testing Effective immediately, weekly screening testing will be voluntary for all undergraduate and residential students who are up to date on their vaccination. Students who are not vaccinated with an approved medical or religious exemption or have not yet received a booster shot despite being eligible will be required to continue weekly testing. Graduate students and faculty who are teaching this semester and front-line staff members may continue to voluntarily test on a weekly basis. "While our screening testing program has recently identified many new positive cases of COVID-19 on our campus, it has become clear that the lengthy process of isolating and contact tracing for each new positive case has diverted important Health Center resources away from supporting symptomatic students, tracking vaccination and booster compliance and supporting higher-risk community members," said the school. Masks and Face Coverings Bentley will make masks optional, but recommended, in most public spaces on campus starting March 1. Masks will still be required in classrooms, the Library, the Health Center and on the Bentley Shuttle. Offices and other locations on campus may determine that masks will be required for all who enter that particular space. Masks are still required for 10 full days after a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and are required for those who are unvaccinated, not up to date on their vaccination, or have not submitted required materials to verify their up-to-date vaccination status. Testing Positive Students who test positive for COVID-19 must follow all current isolation guidelines, meaning they are required to isolate for five full days. Those who display no symptoms of COVID-19 on day six and have been fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of medication may exit isolation. "As communities begin to move to the long-term management of the virus, our campus too will begin to move in that direction," said Bentley. "Again, thank you for all that you have done to keep up with the changing health and safety guidelines over the course of the past two years. Your cooperation has ensured that we've been able to maintain a safe campus for all."