Health + Safety

All Johns Hopkins affiliates (students, trainees, staff, and faculty) are strongly encouraged to use Johns Hopkins resources when symptomatic or concerned about exposure. Anyone who feels ill or is concerned about exposure is encouraged to call the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Call Center at 833-546-7546, seven days a week, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The call center is staffed by Johns Hopkins nurses and physicians and specially trained nursing and medical students. When you call, a representative will instruct you about next steps depending on your circumstances. They will arrange for testing if needed, assist in transmitting information to Occupational Health, and conduct contact notification. Further, the caller will be given instructions regarding quarantine before a test can be secured. The criteria for testing are updated on a regular basis, and the most current criteria will be used when there is an assessment over the phone.

As has always been the case, individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 or have tested positive for infection with SARS-CoV-2 should self-isolate at home except to get medical care until it’s safe to be around others.

Last updated: Dec 16, 2020 3:38pm

Yes.

Last updated: June 22, 2021 12:16pm

No vaccines other than the flu vaccine should be given during the time period of two weeks prior to the first COVID vaccine through two weeks following the final COVID vaccine.

Last updated: June 4, 2021 11:15am

In most cases, you should wait until you are out of isolation (all COVID symptoms have resolved) to get the vaccine, but no longer than 90 days. If you were treated with monoclonal antibodies and/or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine. Affiliates may request a medical exception to wait to get the vaccine until the 90 days has elapsed.

Last updated: June 22, 2021 12:16pm

We have a tremendous amount of information and support available for those who have questions about the vaccine or want to learn more. JHM has compiled a set of resources on Covid vaccine effectiveness and safety and what to expect when getting vaccinated. JHU’s Coronavirus Resource Center has extensive information about how the vaccines were developed and tested, as well as data on their distribution in the U.S. and internationally. 

Last updated: June 22, 2021 12:17pm

Students/trainees not complying with university masking rules may be asked to leave a classroom/lab/studio. Momentary unmasking for drinks/snacks remains permitted.

Faculty/mentors may contact the confidential compliance line or call 844-SPEAK2US (844-773-2528) or speak directly with their student conduct offices. Repeated or serious noncompliance with the university’s COVID-19 health and safety guidance may result in disciplinary actions through the student conduct process, depending on the severity and frequency of the infraction.

Last updated: Aug 30, 2021 4:04pm

Students/trainees are encouraged to contact the confidential compliance line or call 844-SPEAK2US (844-773-2528). Based on the report, department chairs or the respective vice dean for faculty will be consulted for follow-up with faculty/mentors. Repeated or serious noncompliance with the university’s COVID-19 health and safety guidance may result in suspended facility access for a period of time and corrective and/or disciplinary action, depending on the severity and frequency of the infraction.

Last updated: Aug 30, 2021 4:05pm

Yes. Vaccinated and unvaccinated students can room together, and roommate decisions will not be influenced by vaccination status.

Last updated: May 19, 2021 4:11pm

Divisional business officers, HR managers, IT managers, and others have worked to ensure that facilities will be open and ready for staff and faculty to return, and will be communicating plans to unit leaders. If you have specific questions, please contact your supervisor or HR manager.

Last updated: June 22, 2021 12:21pm

Momentary unmasking for consuming drinks/snacks is permitted in all indoor settings.

Longer meals can be consumed where six-foot distancing is maintained from any other person. This includes in shared office locations. Across the university, designated meal areas with distanced seating will be established.

Last updated: Aug 9, 2021 4:28pm

All students, faculty, and staff who are participating in on-campus activities should monitor themselves daily for any symptoms. Anyone who has symptoms associated with COVID-19 or who has concerns about exposure to COVID-19 is strongly encouraged to call the Johns Hopkins COVID Call Center, or JHCCC, at 833-546-7546 to be triaged to determine if they meet the criteria for testing. In the case of employees, their supervisor will be informed that the employee is “off-duty” until cleared. In the case of students, their school’s Student Affairs representative will be notified that the student is “off-duty.” The student’s name will be shared with the student’s consent.

The JHCCC will inform you of your test result if you are tested at a Johns Hopkins facility. If your test is negative, your supervisor or Student Affairs Representative will receive a message that you have been cleared. If you test positive, you will remain “off-duty” and there will be no additional communication to your supervisor or Student Affairs representative until you are cleared. You are encouraged but not required to share the information with your supervisor or Student Affairs representative.

Last updated: Dec 3, 2020 12:00am

Current CDC guidelines allow for anyone who is not severely immunocompromised to return to work if they meet the following criteria:

1. At least 10 days have passed since symptom onset or asymptomatic testing
2. At least 24 hours have passed since last fever without using fever-reducing medications
3. Symptoms have improved.

Employees who believe they have met this criteria should call the Occupational Health Services at the Johns Hopkins COVID Call Center (410-614-6000) for an evaluation and clearance to return to work. Individuals who were first notified of the employee’s “off-duty” status will be informed by OHS that they are cleared to “return to duty.”

Students who need clearance to return to class should be instructed to do the following:

• Students from the schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing should contact University Health Services at 410-955-3250 for an evaluation and clearance to return to class. Individuals who were first notified of the student’s “off-duty” status will be informed by UHS that they are cleared to “return to class.”
• Students of any other JHU school should contact the Student Health and Wellness Center at 410-516-8270 for an evaluation and clearance to return to class. Individuals who were first notified of the student’s “off-duty” status will be informed by SHWC that they are cleared to “return to class.”

Last updated: July 23, 2020 9:10pm

Following CDC and ASHRAE guidance, JH Facilities assessed and improved building ventilation where possible—the number of air exchanges per hour, filtration,  and amount of fresh air intake. Facilities is also performing preventative maintenance checks to ensure filters have been changed and that systems are working properly.  

Last updated: June 25, 2021 12:45pm

Faculty, staff (including bargaining unit staff), and students who come to campus to work, study, or for any other reason are required to complete a daily health check on the Prodensity mobile app or website.

A short questionnaire asks specific questions to assess whether a user has COVID-19 symptoms and/or risk of exposure to COVID-19. Answers yield a campus pass, which, along with testing and vaccine compliance, can be used to grant or deny access to campus and other university resources, including Wi-Fi and J-Cards. The campus pass expires after 12 hours. You may not report to campus unless you have a green campus pass.

You may opt to receive Prodensity reminder emails through your myJH Profile. Affiliates identified as on-campus without a green pass may be automatically enrolled in reminder emails.

Last updated: June 25, 2021 9:50am

If you are an international affiliate, your app settings may need to be changed, because Prodensity is only available on the US-based app stores for Apple and Google. Apple users should follow the instructions at this link to create a US-based account.

Google users should following the instructions at this link.

Last updated: June 22, 2021 3:06pm

Yes. All students, employees, and contractors who are on-campus must complete a daily health check using Prodensity. If you are 100% remote or online, you should change your status to indicate you will not be coming on campus using Prodensity. For more information, read a Prodensity tutorial on how to ensure your status is up-to-date.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2021 8:50am

Our public health and medical experts have urged us to continue preventing individuals who may be symptomatic with COVID from coming to campus. In addition, Prodensity enables the university to monitor compliance for self-reported symptoms, vaccinations, and testing in one system that has both front-end (green pass) and back-end (reporting) capabilities.

Last updated: July 28, 2021 4:08pm

Go to https://prodensity.jh.edu/welcome and scroll down to the blue box labeled “Complete Health Check” in the “Take the COVID Health Check” section of the site, midway down the page.

Last updated: July 21, 2021 1:37pm

If you are a fully online student or an employee working on a 100% remote basis, or you do not plan to visit JHU campus or travel on behalf of JHU, go to Prodensity and set your status to “Off-campus” so that you no longer receive reminder emails. Other than resetting your campus status, no other action is required.

If you are not vaccinated, however, you are encouraged to consider vaccination and to upload your status to VMS should your situation change in the future.

Note: If your situation changes in the future and you do come to campus—or participate in any off-site business, field studies, or residencies while you are affiliated with JHU—you need to submit vaccination documentation before participating.

Commencement information

Students participating in on-campus commencement ceremonies and events must comply with the JHU vaccination mandate and must have received either an FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccination or an approved medical or religious exception prior to coming on-campus, even if they were fully “online” students during their course of study.

Family members and other non-affiliates attending commencement events fall under the JHU guest policy and are therefore not subject to the vaccination mandate, but they must adhered to all masking regulations at the time of the event. The registrars are working on a policy that separates out provision of diplomas from the graduation ceremony.

Last updated: Oct 13, 2021 4:03pm

You need to make an appointment prior to arriving at the testing site, although last-minute appointments are often available. The university has established several campus locations across JHU for mandatory or voluntary testing. Detailed testing site information and hours of operation can be found on the Testing Locations + Schedules page on this website.  

You must have an active MyChart account to participate in the testing and vaccination programs at JHU. Appointments may be made through MyChart (which is also available as a mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play). If you are having issues activating your MyChart, you can call 888-676-3433. 

Last updated: Aug 23, 2021 11:18am

For testing required by the university, you must come to one of several campus testing locations across JHU. All specimen analyses will be conducted by a laboratory that is located within the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and all results will be posted to MyChart. Off-campus tests at local pharmacies and at-home tests are not accepted.

Testing can also be completed at designated Johns Hopkins Medicine locations.

JHU testing sites are also available at any time to all affiliates for elective, optional testing, but affiliates are also free to have elective testing done at locations not affiliated with the university.

Last updated: Oct 1, 2021 3:07pm

Appointments can be made through MyChart (also available as a mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play). You must have an active MyChart account to participate in the testing and vaccination programs at JHU. If you are having issues activating your MyChart, call 888-676-3433 or email Testinginfo@jhu.edu.

Also see: Testing locations and schedules

Last updated: Aug 26, 2021 9:20am

You can pick any day of the week for once weekly testing, or any two days for twice weekly testing, but you cannot be tested on consecutive days.

For the purposes of testing, the new week resets on Monday morning. Prodensity compliance is determined by counting the number of tests taken between Monday and Sunday of the previous week. 

Last updated: Aug 23, 2021 4:34pm

The university has established several campus locations across JHU for mandatory or voluntary testing. Detailed testing site information and hours of operation can be found on the Testing Locations + Schedules page on this website. 

Last updated: Aug 9, 2021 4:00pm

No.

Last updated: June 22, 2021 3:04pm

While Prodensity has integrated real-time compliance with symptom screening, vaccination, and testing mandates, compliance is monitored primarily through weekly reports sent to divisional response teams (composed of divisional HR managers and divisional business officers) and Student Affairs staff.

Real-time compliance using Prodensity passes should only be used in situations where routine screening can be accomplished by authorized JHU personnel—e.g., a security desk for accessing certain JHU facilities or at a check-in desk for certain on-campus events.

Unless authorized by University Administration, faculty, staff, and students are not permitted to make any demands to view the Prodensity passes of any JHU affiliates or restrict activities based upon this information. If you have a concern or complaint regarding noncompliance with university COVID-19 safety measures by a member of the Hopkins community, please make a confidential report via the online compliance form or by calling 844-SPEAK2US (844-773-2528).

Last updated: Aug 26, 2021 8:43am

Student Affairs staff, who have been designated in each school to have access to the Vaccine Management System, are responsible for identifying students/trainees who are out of compliance with either uploading their vaccination documentation or receiving an exception and will follow-up with them individually.

They also receive regular reports on compliance with mandatory testing requirements and will follow up with those students/trainees who are not following the required testing frequency.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2021 8:21am

No. Instructors cannot ask about the vaccination status of their students/trainees, ask whether they plan to be vaccinated, or require a student/trainee to show their Prodensity pass. Asking about a student/trainee’s vaccination status may prompt disclosure of disability-related information or information regarding existing health conditions that are relevant to the vaccination.

Unlike when students receive a disability accommodation through the Office of Disability Services, any adjustments to the student’s/trainee’s academic activities due to vaccination status or testing noncompliance will be communicated to the student and instructor/mentor by the school’s Student/Academic Affairs office.

If a student receives accommodations through disability services, instructors/mentors should not assume they are related to a student’s vaccination status.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2021 8:40am

JHU affiliates will only be identified as “on campus” if their Wi-Fi is detected for over an hour at two different on-campus access points. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that affiliates do not leave Wi-Fi enabled devices in office locations overnight. 

Last updated: June 22, 2021 3:05pm