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President Rosenberg: 'Let's take steps to prevent further spread of COVID-19'

President Rosenberg: 'Let's take steps to prevent further spread of COVID-19'

Editor’s note: If you have questions about whether the COVID-19 vaccines are a good choice for you, please contact your physician or make an appointment at the Student Health Clinic or FIU Health.
Campus & Community

August 10, 2021 at 4:10pm

Dear members of the university community,

At FIU, we strive to help our Panther family stay safe and healthy. Now, as cases and hospitalizations due to the Delta variant continue to increase in our community, we must unite and take necessary steps to prevent further spread.

Face coverings on campus

That is why, effective immediately and in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, we strongly advise all students, faculty, staff, visitors and vendors to wear a face covering at all times while indoors at any FIU facility, regardless of your vaccination status.

The CDC has determined that both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals can transmit COVID-19 to those who are unvaccinated, and it is important that we implement all levels of protection on our campuses to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our FIU family.

Face coverings, when used properly, have been shown to offer an important layer of protection. 

Get the shot

Vaccines remain the most effective tool against COVID-19, and we encourage you to get vaccinated as soon as possible to ensure you have some level of protection against this serious disease and are able to protect your loved ones, friends and colleagues.

Unlike the original virus that caused the previous surges, the Delta variant is making the young and unvaccinated very sick. While evidence shows that people who are vaccinated can get COVID-19, this is rare and their symptoms are usually milder. However, they can still infect unvaccinated individuals. If you are unvaccinated, you are assuming a significant risk to your health and you are putting others at risk.

If you have not received the vaccine, please take advantage of on-campus appointments. If you have friends who are not vaccinated, please urge them to get the shot. It is free, easy to get and highly effective.

First doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be available at MMC on Wednesday, Aug. 11. Please register for an appointment as soon as possible using your FIU credentials. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Everyone must bring a photo ID or birth certificate. Also, vaccines are free and widely available in our community.

Panthers Protecting Panthers

Please remember that vaccinated or not, we must all continue to observe COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. Besides vaccination and using face coverings while indoors, please remember to complete the P3 app questionnaire before arriving on campus each day. Make sure you have the latest version of the app; it has been updated with new questions.

Also, wash your hands frequently, stay home if you are sick and seek medical care if needed.

As a well-informed university community, we can use these important safety tools to accelerate our path out of this pandemic, protect the most vulnerable among us and ensure a fruitful semester.

This is a dynamic situation, and we know that new issues and new questions will arise often. We are committed to being as responsive as we can be, and ensuring our community is updated regularly.

We look forward to a safe, healthy, and successful fall term!

Mark B. Rosenberg
President

 

Kenneth G. Furton
Provost, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

 

Elizabeth M. Bejar
Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Affairs

 

El pagnier Kay “EK” Hudson
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Vice Provost, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

Joerg Reinhold
Professor, Faculty Senate Chair

 

Alexander Rubido
Student Government President