Opportunities to resume a more normal way of life continue to grow — across the state and on the UNMC campus — for individuals who have received the COVID-19 vaccine.
During Wednesday’s campus forum, UNMC leaders answered questions and outlined new guidance that went into effect that very day. They also encouraged vaccination and reiterated the need for unvaccinated individuals to continue to wear masks, social distance and take appropriate public health safety measures.
“Now is not the time to completely throw caution to the wind,” said Ted Cieslak, MD, interim executive director of health security, noting ongoing variants and cases in unvaccinated individuals. Still, he said, signs this week point to some semblance of normalcy returning as the State of Nebraska removed the last of its directed health measures and the City of Omaha allowed its mask mandate to expire.
“We’re not fully returning to normal, but if you are vaccinated you can get back most of your life,” Dr. Cieslak said.
UNMC’s new campus guidance provides greater flexibility for vaccinated individuals; yet, some precautions remain including the following:
- Unvaccinated people must mask and distance;
- Masking is required in all clinical/patient-facing areas;
- Masking is required for research visitors;
- The Child Care Center follows guidance specifically issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
- On-campus gatherings are limited to 50;
- International travel remains discouraged; and
- Study abroad programs and non-UNMC gatherings remain on hold.
UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said the upcoming Memorial Day weekend provides opportunities for individuals to get vaccinated, if they haven’t already done so.
Dr. Gold acknowledged the May 25, one-year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd and the work done this past year to create a more inclusive culture on campus, including info sessions on microaggressions and unconscious bias, monthly townhalls on inclusive excellence and more.
“We’re nowhere near ready to declare victory,” he said. “There is far more work ahead of us, but the momentum is real and palpable.” View the Office of Inclusion’s progress report.
During the forum, Dr. Gold also:
- Congratulated UNMC’s more than 1,000 graduates who, earlier this month, participated in five different in-person commencement ceremonies across the state.
- Noted that more than 50 percent of Nebraskans and more than 85 percent of UNMC’s faculty, staff and students have been immunized.
- Reported that the pandemic has underscored significant behavior health challenges nationally ranging from K-12 students to frontline health care workers. “It’s been a long and hard 15-months and all of us are vulnerable, myself included,” he said. In March, UNMC and the University of Nebraska at Omaha combined its counseling resources and services to strengthen and expand Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for all enrolled students seeking support for mental health and well-being.
- Thanked Dr. Cieslak for his service for helping the campus navigate the pandemic and wished him well on his retirement. (Dr. Cieslak retires May 31, but will retain an adjunct faculty position in the College of Public Health).
- Reminded individuals to “show grace, respect and kindness” to the individuals who continue to wear a mask, including some who may have medical challenges and be immunosuppressed.
- Highlighted ongoing work on the Saddle Creek development project, the June 8 virtual dedication of the Munroe-Meyer Institute’s new home, the Wittson Hall renovation project and dedication of the Wigton Heritage Center in late June. Recently, Dr. Gold said he was on hand (and rode in a scissor lift) as workers replaced the 1,200-pound University of Nebraska seal on the Wittson Hall entrance.
- Noted the https://nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2021/04/state-budget-package-nu-deferred-maintenance-proposal-earn-final-legislative-approval Unicameral passed the University of Nebraska budget as well as LB588, which provides deferred maintenance funds through 2060. Further, UNMC has met all of the 2021 budget goals and continues to build the 2022 budget with flat tuition and a 2% increase in state support.
- Referenced the medical center’s aggressive 2030 sustainability plan; view progress on the plan.
Thank you to all the faculty and staff who learned to conduct N95 fit testing and provided the support for keeping our students safe with appropriate respiratory protection in clinical areas with COVID-19 patients throughout the state of Nebraska. Those graduations would have not been possible without your willingness to do something extraordinary at an already busy time. I am so grateful for your time and talents.
Why are on campus gatherings still limited to 50 people when the message we're getting is that the majority of the campus is vaccinated? That alone gives mixed messages about the effectiveness of the vaccine…
While we are thrilled by the response of our students, staff and faculty in seeking vaccination (roughly 90% are fully vaccinated), we remain mindful that we are a health care entity. The CDC guidance allowing for mask-less gatherings (of any size) for fully vaccinated individuals was designed to apply to the general public, but not necessarily to healthcare settings.
Accordingly, while we are eager to return to some semblance of our normal (pre-COVID) life, we need to do so cautiously.
The guidance limiting gatherings to 50 people is not designed to be a strict limit; those proposing to hold larger gatherings are simply asked to submit an event safety plan. This allows us to ensure that the event is taking place in an appropriate space with some minimal precautions in place.