Over the past several weeks, the COVID-19 community level in the counties where Pitt has campuses has jumped up and down from high to low to medium.
Under Pitt’s policy, masks are required indoors when the levels are high, but optional when they drop to medium or low.
Currently, the counties where the Oakland, Greensburg, Johnstown and Bradford campuses are located are at the low level, while Crawford County, where Pitt–Titusville resides, is at medium. Masks remain optional at all campuses. If the level rises and masking status on one campus changes and not on others, then more targeted messages will be sent out to make faculty, staff and students on that campus aware.
The COVID-19 Medical Response Office (CMRO) is posting the current community levels on its website — coronavirus.pitt.edu. You also can find county COVID-19 levels on the Centers for Disease Control website. The CDC is now updating that data every Thursday.
In a message on June 22, the CMRO said it expects the community levels to continue to fluctuate for several months, but, “Thanks to the high vaccination rate in our Pitt communities, the risk from COVID for the majority of people is no longer serious illness, hospitalization or death, but disruption to life, which nobody wants, either.”
The CMRO continued to encourage everyone to wear a mask when in large crowds indoors. “One-way masking works,” the message said, “Even if others around you are not masking, you are better protected when wearing a well-fitting mask.”
The Pitt CoVax Vaccination Center remains open for the summer from noon to 5 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. Register online. The center, located on the Fifth Avenue side of Nordenberg Hall, is offering all COVID-19 boosters, first doses (for ages 3 and up) and second doses.
— Susan Jones
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