COVID Safety Violations

*Published on January 25, 2021

Dear Northeastern University Students,  

It is great to see the campus filled with students, staff, and faculty as the spring term gets underway. Since the start of the spring term, however, we’ve noticed behavior that compels us to make an urgent reminder: mask-wearing and healthy distancing is still critical to our community safety.  

Students who fail to comply with COVID-19 safety rules will be referred to the student conduct process. All of these behaviors keep you—and those around you—safe. 

• Follow your testing requirements. In Boston,  full-time undergraduate students who live in university housing or in the surrounding areas are required to be tested every three days. 
• Remember—testing doesn’t prevent you from getting sick or infecting others. It only tells you if you’re already sick. Wearing masks and practicing healthy distancing are still important safety measures.  
• Masks should be worn securely over your mouth and nose at all times on campus, except when eating or when you are inside your own room or apartment by yourself. Our contact tracing data show that close contacts are less likely to be infected if everyone is wearing masks.  
• Practice healthy distancing. If you’re standing outside and talking with a group of friends, wear your mask and stand six feet apart.  
• Complete your Daily Wellness Check honestly. If you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or if you’re having symptoms, don’t come to Cabot Testing Center for testing. Mark it on the Daily Wellness Check, and the wellness team will help you with the next steps. 
• Follow the rules on guests in residence halls. Currently, no guests are permitted into the residential buildings. To assist with the quarantine restrictions, guests from within your building are not permitted in your room, suite, or apartment.  
• Unsafe gatherings are not permitted. Healthy distancing and face masks are a must if you’re gathering with anyone outside your household. 
  

We know how difficult it is to start another academic term with restrictions that limit how we socialize and connect with each other. All of us share the same desire for life to get back to a semblance of normalcy, but that can only happen if everyone follows the public health rules and recommendations referenced above. Your dedication to safety helped our entire community “Protect the Pack” last fall, and we encourage you to keep going. 

Sincerely,  

 

Madeleine Estabrook 

Senior Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs