Table of Contents:

1. Historically High COVID-19 Numbers on Campus

Due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, a shockingly high number of COVID-19 cases have been detected in Champaign County and on UIUC’s campus, according to https://Go.Illinois.edu/COVIDTestingData.

[Image description: This screenshot from the UIUC COVID-19 Testing Data Dashboard shows the 7-day data for COVID-19 cases on UIUC’s campus between 1/3/22 and 1/9/22; this includes 1,128 new cases, 20,997 tests, and a 5.37% positivity rate. Below this data is a bar chart showing the daily cases and positivity rate from August 2020 to the present. There is a spike of cases in September 2020 and a much larger spike at the end of the chart in January of 2022.]

In just the last 7 days (January 3-9, 2022), 1,128 cases have been detected on campus, including 293 graduate students and 336 undergraduates. We also saw the highest positivity rates ever on campus, with a 5.37% positivity rate. These numbers are very concerning, especially since we’re only averaging about 3,000 tests per day.

In comparison, the second week of classes in Fall 2020 (August 31-September 6, 2020) was previously the week with the highest number of cases on campus ever; then, only 804 cases were detected from 70,561 tests, with a positivity rate of 1.1%.

Despite these incredibly dangerous numbers, UIUC has done little to protect workers and students from COVID-19; in fact, they have reduced the number of negative tests required to return to campus. Additional screenshots of UIUC cases and Champaign County cases can be viewed at the bottom of this email.

2. Survey about Membership Needs & COVID-19 Concerns

We need to hear from you. Please complete this survey to direct how we collectively respond to these unsafe conditions: https://bit.ly/GEOCOVIDSURVEY

3. University Requirements for Returning to Campus

Please be sure to review UIUC’s requirements for returning to campus. General Spring 2022 policies are available here, while grad student-specific information can be found here.

Boosters: All members of the campus community are required to receive a COVID-19 booster shot in addition to the previously required vaccination (2 shots for Pfizer & Moderna, 1 shot for Johnson & Johnson). If you cannot access a booster shot before returning to campus, appointments will be available at McKinley when you arrive on campus.
Testing: All graduate students are required to receive one negative COVID-19 test on campus by January 15 to gain building access. The GEO recommends testing at least weekly during the Spring 2022 semester to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on campus.
Face Coverings: All university students, faculty, staff and visitors must wear a face covering in university spaces indoors, regardless of vaccination status. People who are NOT fully vaccinated are required to wear a face covering in university spaces indoors, as well as outdoors when they cannot practice social distancing. This applies to all students, faculty, staff and visitors. The university now recommends wearing an N95 mask, a KN95 mask, or a Level 3 surgical mask for best protection.

4. Classes Online in Week 1 (January 18-21)

UIUC has announced that all Spring 2022 classes will meet online during the first week (January 18-21) to give community members time to test. The university claims that they do not expect any classes to remain online after this first week

5. Face Covering Recommendations

The university requires face coverings for all members of the campus community, regardless of vaccination status. UIUC is also encouraging people to wear N95 masks, KN95 masks, or a Level 3 surgical mask for additional protection.

The university is providing one mask to all members of the campus community. Beginning January 13, students can pick up masks at the locations listed here. Units are also distributing masks directly to employees. Because we are unsure whether grad workers will be considered students or employees in this process, we recommend obtaining a mask through whichever method appears quickest.

6. Recommendation for Building Status Checks

UIUC has discontinued the Safer Illinois app in favor of the Illinois App. However, GEO has major concerns about the privacy and tracking practices of the Illinois App. Instead, we recommend using the COVID-19 Boarding Pass when asked to show your building status.

GEO’s members are deeply concerned for their safety, the safety of their students, and the safety of our friends and family. Completing our survey https://bit.ly/GEOCOVIDSURVEY is the best way to get involved in the fight for safety on campus.