Coronavirus Information

Welcome and important reminders

August 30, 2021

Dear Students,

Welcome to Johns Hopkins! Whether you are new or returning to the Homewood campus, my colleagues in Student Affairs and Student Health and Well-Being and I are excited for the opportunity to get to know you throughout the year ahead.

There’s a lot to look forward to in the months to come—the Student Involvement Fair, hoptoberfest, Lighting of the Quads, and the reopening of the Rec Center, to name a few. We also hope you will join us in showing your school spirit on Blue Jay Tuesdays (every Tuesday) by wearing Hopkins colors.

As you know, with the resumption of in-person classes and activities, we must continue to be vigilant about preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While our requirement that all students, faculty, and staff be vaccinated provides substantial protection for our community, we must be mindful that COVID transmission is still possible and that following the latest scientific guidance as it develops is key to the success of this semester. So, as you settle in to campus life, please review our current health and safety requirements:

  • All students, faculty, staff, and visitors must wear a face mask while indoors, with the exception of students in their residences with their roommates. Masks are also required at all registered off-campus parties.
  • Vaccinated undergraduate students living on and off campus must receive a COVID test once per week. Unvaccinated students with an approved exception must test twice per week, as must students who are in the process of being revaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine. Testing locations and information can be found on the coronavirus website. You must test through JHU. We will not accept rapid home tests as part of the testing requirement.
  • Daily health checks through the Prodensity app are required regardless of vaccination status.
  • Maintain proper social distancing when unmasked and eating in dining spaces. Tables and chairs have been positioned to de-densify these spaces; please refrain from moving them. You are encouraged to utilize outdoor seating where available, as well as the annex on the Freshman Quad.
  • Travel is strongly discouraged at this time, but students who do plan to travel outside the greater Baltimore area should register their travel through Prodensity. The registration form can be accessed through “Settings” on Prodensity starting in early September, and it is titled “Campus Status and Travel Registration.” The university will not be “approving” personal travel, but rather, the travel registration will help us make sure students are able to receive their weekly testing or, if they are not, to understand why.

These guidelines are in place to help you protect your health and the health of those around you. We appreciate your compliance as well as your flexibility as we continue to monitor the state of the pandemic both locally and globally.

Thank you again for staying safe and looking out for one another.

Sincerely,

Kevin Shollenberger
Vice Provost for Student Health and Well-Being and Interim Vice Provost for Student Affairs