The COVID-19 public health emergency officially ended in May, and now Pitt’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office, which formed in mid-2020 to manage the emergency on campus, is shutting down.
While this summer has seen a small surge of cases nationwide, the CMRO said, “COVID-19 cases reported among our campus population remain very low.”
“Effective Aug. 1, the University will discontinue maintaining institutional requirements — except for the vaccine policy, which remains in place — and will, instead, rely on individuals to take responsibility for their health and the well-being of the community with respect to COVID-19,” the CMRO said in a message to the Pitt community.
The University’s COVID-19 Vaccination policy requires proof of vaccination for all new students and employees without an approved exception.
The Hub, located on the Fifth Avenue side of Nordenberg Hall, will continue offering all adult vaccinations, including COVID-19 and flu (ages 5+), as well as employee health screenings and care connections Mondays through Fridays, by appointment or on a walk-in basis. Visit the Hub’s website for hours.
Separately, Pitt and Senate Council have been working on updating the University’s full vaccination policy, but the process has been stalled during the ongoing negotiations with the faculty union, according to Senate President Robin Kear.
The CMRO emphasized in its farewell message that “if you feel ill, please stay home regardless of the cause. Again, it is the personal responsibility of individuals to protect the health of the community.”
Those who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home for at least five days and wear a mask in public until at least day 11, according to CDC guidelines. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 through a close contact, you should wear a mask in public for a full 10 days. Otherwise, masks are not required on campus.
The CMRO was led through most of the pandemic by John Williams, professor of pediatrics and pediatric immunology and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in Pitt’s School of Medicine. Williams was recognized last year with a Special Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award.
Joe Suyama, associate professor in Pitt’s Department of Emergency Medicine and chief of emergency medicine services at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and a member of the CMRO since its inception, took over in November 2022.
In its final message, the CMRO said: “It has been an honor serving this community through every trying stage of the pandemic. It has been a privilege to see up close how the Pitt community came together in ways we never have before, ways too countless to mention. We have experienced a culture change in the past three years, have gotten to know one another better, and have taken better care of each other, all while furthering our mission of education in pursuit of a better world.”
— Susan Jones
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