Mavericks,
Ahead of the start of the Fall 2022 semester and a new academic year, our Emergency Management team is helping ensure our campus has the latest information on the university’s ongoing efforts to monitor and assess any risks to our community’s health and wellness.
As you have likely seen, there has been a national resurgence in COVID-19 cases due to the BA.5 Omicron subvariant. In addition, the World Health Organization recently declared the ongoing monkeypox outbreak a global public health emergency.
Please know that we take these recent trends seriously and are working closely with our partners at the Douglas County Health Department to provide the best guidance for our campus. And through these conversations, we are pleased to report that campus remains a healthy place to teach, work, and learn, and there is currently no adjustment needed to existing campus policies and guidance.
To help slow the spread of any disease, please make sure to monitor your symptoms and contact a health professional if you feel sick. As a campus, we will continue to practice understanding, flexibility, and support with each other as we did at the height of the pandemic. I encourage you to review our existing COVID-19 guidance and familiarize yourself with community resources related to COVID-19 and monkeypox to learn more about each, dispel any rumors, and answer questions you may have.
An explainer on Monkeypox symptoms can also be found on the Nebraska Medicine UNO Health Center website. Students who experience these symptoms are encouraged to make an appointment with the Health Center by calling 402.554.2374.
And, finally, as a reminder, while the UNO campus does not require masking or public distancing for classrooms, office spaces, or events, we do welcome the use of masks and encourage the use of hand sanitizer and other important hygiene steps to help our campus community stay healthy and well. Additionally, please know that our facilities team is continuing to sanitize all classrooms and public spaces just as we have since the beginning of the pandemic. You can also order any necessary office and classroom supplies through our campus request form.
Have specific campus-related concerns with regards to COVID-19 or Monkeypox? Let our team know by emailing emergencymgmt@unomaha.edu.
Thank you for helping keep our campus healthy! Have a safe and enjoyable rest of the summer!
Sincerely,
Joanne Li, Ph.D., CFA
Chancellor
Diane Mack
Emergency Management Director
UNO Department of Public Safety
