Fall 2022 COVID-19 & Monkeypox Update

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As the President and Provost communicated on August 12th, we would like to reaffirm our commitment to the health and wellness of the campus community and assure you that Florida State University continues to closely monitor all public health issues, including COVID-19 and monkeypox. We would like to take this opportunity to outline Florida State University’s current policies, guidance, and expectations.

COVID-19
We continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, and the State University System of Florida with regard to COVID-19. We encourage all students, faculty, and staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine and recommended booster shots. We also suggest those who are concerned about potentially contracting or spreading coronavirus or other viruses wear masks indoors, especially in situations where there are large gatherings. Anyone who is feeling ill or has been exposed to COVID-19 should be tested and follow CDC guidance for quarantine or isolation.

To be clear, there is no COVID-19 testing, vaccination, social distancing, or masking requirement to visit, live, work, or study on campus. In addition, faculty and staff will no longer be required to report positive COVID-19 test results to the University or complete the Daily COVID Wellness Check. However, employees experiencing symptoms of any illness should take extra precautions, notify their supervisor, and stay home.

Full vaccination against COVID-19 is still the best, most effective way to protect yourselves and others from getting COVID-19 and preventing disruption of your studies, social activities, teaching, research, and work.

Face coverings are encouraged but not required on campus except in designated healthcare locations. Medical grade face masks, such as N95 or KN95 masks, are more effective against the highly transmissible coronavirus variants such as Omicron. 

Everyone should continue to exercise personal responsibility by washing hands frequently, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, and staying home when ill. If an employee has been exposed to COVID-19 or has traveled internationally, they are no longer required to quarantine but should follow the most up-to-date guidance from the CDC.  

If an employee is ill or needs to isolate, they should contact their supervisor immediately to either:

1. Request leave; or 
2. Request to work remotely if possible and permissible.

Supervisors do not need to contact HR regarding positive cases. The HR COVID inbox will no longer be used as there is no requirement to report cases. 

Monkeypox
Monkeypox is a virus that can spread through close, personal, skin-to-skin contact and is caused by a virus similar to smallpox, but symptoms are much milder. It is also possible to spread through touching contaminated surfaces and contact with respiratory secretions.  Anyone who has symptoms of monkeypox should contact University Health Services at (850) 644-4567 or see a health care provider for a medical evaluation. Anyone who is diagnosed with monkeypox will be advised to isolate at home until cleared to return to activity.

For more information about COVID-19 or monkeypox, please visit the Stay Healthy FSU website. As part of our ongoing public health campaign, updated printable signage for classrooms and employee workspaces also can be found at this site.

As with any illness, employees should notify their supervisor and request to stay home if they are sick. 

While we expect employees to work one-on-one with their supervisors to report illnesses, the Office of Human Resources will still be available for any unique or extenuating issues that may arise. 

As we learn more about both COVID-19 and monkeypox, we know that scientific and public health recommendations/guidelines from the CDC and the Department of Health will evolve. We will continue to follow these health issues closely and will provide updates as needed.

Sincerely,

Renisha Gibbs
Associate Vice President for Human Resources
Finance & Administration Chief of Staff