COVID-19 Information
Health Services
Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Salve Regina has used the latest science and data to determine the best course of action for our campus community. Our plans for campus operations continue to follow current guidance from the CDC and other agencies, along with patterns among our population and the severity of new variants. As always, we seek to ensure the health and safety of our community while also preserving the quality of our on-campus experience.
COVID-19 Community Levels
The CDC's COVID-19 community levels help institutions of higher education make decisions based on their local context and unique needs. Community levels are classified as low, medium or high, and are determined by COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the past seven days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients and new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days.
In Newport County, the current COVID-19 community level is low.
At this level, the following prevention behaviors are recommended:
- Stay up to date on vaccination, including recommended booster doses.
- Maintain ventilation improvements.
- Avoid contact with people who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
- Follow the recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- If you are at high risk of getting very sick, talk with a health care provider about additional prevention actions.
Reported Cases of COVID-19
Known cases for the spring 2023 semester, updated through March 20.
- Students: 58
- Faculty: 4
- Staff: 23
- Total: 85
Vaccines and Boosters
All students and employees are required to receive a primary COVID-19 vaccine series and one booster dose or seek an exemption on health or religious grounds. Graduate and RN-BSN students who are fully online and have no need to access campus resources do not need to follow this requirement. We strongly recommend that all students and employees stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines based on CDC guidelines.
- Undergraduate students should submit their vaccine and booster records through the student health portal. Exemption forms are available on the Health Services website. Undergraduate students who have questions about their vaccine and booster records should email healthservices@salve.edu.
- Graduate and RN-BSN students who are taking in-person courses should submit their vaccine and booster records through this form. Exemption forms are available on the Health Services website. Graduate and RN-BSN students who have questions about their vaccine and booster records should email deanofstudents@salve.edu.
- Employees should submit their vaccine and booster records via the employee submission form. Exemption forms are available in the Campus portal. Employees who have questions about their vaccine and booster records should email humanresources@salve.edu.
Pre-Semester Testing
At the beginning of each semester, undergraduate students are required to have a negative antigen (rapid) test within the 24 hours prior to their arrival on campus or to their off-campus housing.
- You are not required to report a negative result.
- If you test positive, email a photo that includes your positive result, full name and test date to healthservices@salve.edu and remain away from campus. Health Services will contact you to discuss the specifics of your case.
At the beginning of each semester, graduate and RN-BSN students who are taking in-person classes are required to have a negative antigen (rapid) test within the 24 hours prior to their first class meeting.
- You are not required to report a negative result.
- If you test positive, email a photo that includes your positive result, full name and test date to healthservices@salve.edu and remain away from campus. Health Services will contact you to discuss the specifics of your case.
Symptomatic Testing
Undergraduate students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact Health Services for rapid PCR testing. Graduate students and employees who are symptomatic should seek care and testing from their health care provider and report any positive cases to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (graduate students) or the Office of Human Resources (employees).
Mask Advisories
We are operating on a three-tiered mask advisory system linked to the CDC’s assessment of community transmission rates for Newport County. These levels may be elevated if warranted by campus conditions.
- At the green (lowest) level, there is no mask guidance.
- At the yellow (medium) level, masks are recommended indoors, when in the presence of others, especially for those who are at high risk for severe illness.
- At the orange (highest) level, masks are strongly recommended indoors in the presence of others.
Faculty may require masks in their classrooms or instructional spaces, regardless of the overall campus status. All members of the University community are encouraged to respect the masking preferences of others and treat all with empathy and compassion.
Quarantine and Isolation
Students and employees who test positive for COVID-19 will isolate for five days (or longer if their symptoms have not resolved). After leaving isolation, individuals must wear a mask for an additional five days. If you are symptomatic and a close contact, quarantine for five days or until your symptoms resolve, even if you test negative. If you test positive while in quarantine, the above guidance for isolation will apply. Undergraduate students who need quarantine housing should contact the Office of Residence Life for assistance.
Contact Tracing
Students and employees who test positive must notify their close contacts on their own. Students who test positive are asked to provide basic information about their extracurricular activities, where they live and whether they are part of any large groups. We no longer require assigned seating in classrooms.
Close Contacts
A close contact is someone who was less than six feet away from an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. Students and employees who are identified as close contacts should take an antigen (rapid) test immediately and again on day 4 or 5, regardless of their vaccination status. If they test negative and remain symptom-free, individuals may attend class and/or come to work. Close contacts should wear a mask for 10 days when indoors and around others. If symptoms develop at any time, you should quarantine as noted above.
Recent Communications
- Jan. 11 - COVID-19 reminders for the spring semester
- Dec. 14 - COVID-19 protocols for the spring semester
- Dec. 12 - COVID-19 community level rises to medium