Will faculty and staff who work on campus be able to get tested at Tufts if they are symptomatic?
Yes, Tufts will offer symptomatic testing for individuals on campus who have spoken with a Tufts clinician. If you are feeling sick, please follow the steps on the If You Are Sick page.
I am a faculty member. If I poll my students and the majority of students want to keep masks on, can we make it a class mandate?
This is something that the class will express itself by voluntary actions and by wanting be respectful of their classmates and the faculty member. If mask wearing on campus is not being mandated, it can’t be enforced as a requirement and disciplinary action can’t be taken, even if the majority of students votes to wear masks in the classroom.
How should we properly log or document care of a child? For example, if a child has to stay home because they have been exposed to COVID and cannot attend school.
There are a couple of ways to do this. The first is to talk with a representative on the Leaves team by emailing Leaves@Tufts.edu, if your leave involves the care of a family member. You may also use vacation or personal time to cover the days you are out of the office.
To go back to work, are staff who had tested positive for COVID-19 required to confirm their status with an antigen test at home or come to campus to be tested?
We are requiring that undergraduates confirm their status with a negative antigen test out of an abundance of caution. Per CDC guidance, individuals do not need to test to be released from isolation. Therefore, it is not required that faculty and staff have a negative antigen test before returning to work or the classroom. If they are feeling better with a decrease in symptoms, they may return to campus on day six (after testing positive) provided they wear a mask at all times and be careful around others.
What is symptomatic testing?
First of all, if individuals have symptoms consistent with SARS-CoV-2, they should not attend class or come to work on campus. However, they may avail themselves to testing on campus to determine whether or not they have SARS-CoV-2. As the incidence and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in our community declines, do not forget about other communicable diseases. So, if you are feeling sick and test negative for COVID, you should still seek the advice of your primary care physician.
What is the policy regarding outside visitors in our dining centers on campus?
Visitors are welcome to campus, provided they are vaccinated and boosted and follow the university’s indoor masking requirements and other COVID-19 safety guidelines. For more information, see our guidelines for campus visitors.
Are prospective students and their families who are coming to campus for tours allowed access to Campus Center and other facilities? Do they have to show proof of vaccination?
All visitors to Tufts campuses must be fully vaccinated and boosted. We do not always have the ability to check for proof of vaccination, but all visitors should be made aware of the policy. For more information, see our guidelines for campus visitors.
How do I order PPE (personal protective equipment) for my staff or department?
Tufts Purchasing department has set up procedures to centrally stock a number of PPE items needed to keep the university safe and healthy, including masks (disposable and N95, which are just for clinical and labs), disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer/liquid gel, gloves, and cleaning supplies.
Please contact your department administrator who should have access to a form to request these items. If they do not have access to the form or you have a special request, please email ppe@elist.tufts.edu.
One of my direct reports recently tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do?
Managers and supervisors should follow the existing sick time and/or extended sick leave policies for employees who test positive for COVID-19. Please remind your employee to let us know they tested positive at go.tufts.edu/COVIDpositive. You may gently encourage your employee to tell their coworkers, but you cannot require it. Do not reach out to your employee’s close contacts on their behalf. Informing close contacts is the sole responsibility of the person who tested positive, as it discloses private health information. Many “close contacts” identified by those who are not healthcare professionals do not actually meet the definition of a close contact. All close contacts should follow CDC guidelines. Close contacts who are vaccinated and boosted should watch for symptoms but continue attending school or work as normal.
I recently tested positive for COVID-19. Whom do I need to inform?
If you test positive for COVID-19 at a facility outside of Tufts University (e.g., a home rapid test) please let us know at go.tufts.edu/COVIDpositive and follow the university’s isolation guidelines. Additionally, we highly recommend that you check the CDC’s definition of a close contact and inform them. All close contacts should follow CDC guidelines. Close contacts who are vaccinated and boosted should watch for symptoms but continue attending school or work as normal.
If I am an essential employee and unable to come into work due to COVID-19, what are my sick-time benefits?
If you have questions about sick time benefits, please contact your HR Business Partner.
If an employee is considered essential on-campus staff and has someone at home with COVID-19, should they report to work nonetheless?
Per CDC guidance, fully boosted and vaccinated individuals should monitor for symptoms but may report to work. If you have further questions, please follow CDC guidelines.
These FAQs are subject to change. Please check back here for the latest guidance. If you do not find the information you are looking for, please send an email to covidtesting@tufts.edu.