January 2, 2022
Texas A&M AgriLife colleagues,
Given the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in Brazos County, and as part of Texas A&M University and The Texas A&M University System response, Texas A&M AgriLife is taking part in asking all in-Brazos county faculty and staff to work from home for the first week of January (Jan. 3-7), except for personnel whose duties are essential to being performed onsite. Staff who must come into the office to perform mission-critical activities should coordinate with their supervisors prior to entering an AgriLife facility.
Positive COVID-19 and flu cases are spreading rapidly across Texas and hospitalizations are on the rise, signaling that pandemic conditions are worsening once again.
Guidance and direction for operations for the following week beginning Monday, January 10, 2022, will be communicated in a follow-up memo.
While none of the steps below are mandated, you are strongly encouraged to please do your part by following these recommendations:
- Get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This includes the booster shot; check here for on-campus locations and here for off-campus sites, including CVS and Walgreens. For those not in Bryan-College Station, please check your respective websites for COVID-related information.
- Get tested before returning to campus. Free testing is widely available across the main campus and off campus.
- Get the flu shot.
- Wear a well-fitted mask or face covering indoors, regardless of your vaccination status. Do’s and don’ts of mask-wearing are outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Don’t come to work if you’re sick.
- Self-reporting a positive case of COVID-19 is required by the university through redcap.tamhsc.edu/surveys/?s=N38DRD4EMK. This act of selfless service will help the university to understand and control the virus on campus.
Need to know:
- New protocols recently outlined by the CDC specify the shortened recommended isolation and quarantine period after testing positive or having a close contact with someone who has the virus.
- Epidemiologists have warned that the newest COVID-19 variant, called omicron, is likely more contagious than the original strain, SARS-CoV-2.
- Even if a person is vaccinated, they still can contract the virus, but their symptoms are expected to be considerably milder.
- It’s fine to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines on the same day.
Please regularly check Texas A&M’s COVID-19 guidance page for updates. Contact your supervisor if you have any related questions.
Stay well,
Vic Seidel
Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations
Texas A&M AgriLife
