Date:  December 21, 2020
To:  THE NYU COMMUNITY
From:  Katherine Fleming, Provost
Martin Dorph, Exec. Vice President
Dr. Carlo Ciotoli, Exec. Lead, NYU COVID-19 Prevention & Response Team

Winter Break

Testing for Community Members Who Will Be on Campus During Winter Break and Early January

Employees, like everyone else, should get tested within the 10 days prior to their departure for Winter Break. Subsequently:

  • The Week of December 21: There is no required testing this week
  • The Week of December 28th (when NYU’s campus facilities are largely closed): Those on campus may test anytime this week
  • The Period of January 4 (when campus offices reopen)–January 24: Everyone (including those who were on-campus and tested over the winter recess) must test on their first day on campus during this period using Binx or Bioreference
  • From January 25 onwards: You will be expected to have a valid Binx or Bioreference test result within the 14 days prior to accessing campus facilities

During the period from December 28 to January 24, you will not need to be tested and get results before accessing NYU buildings; just get tested as directed above.

Return for the Spring Semester

As we indicated in a communication to students in NYU residence halls earlier this week, we will be proceeding in a similar fashion for all those arriving for the spring semester as we did for the fall semester:

  • From January 25 onward, everyone—students in NYU housing, students living off-campus, and employees—will need to have a Binx or Bioreference result within the 14-day period prior to accessing NYU facilities. For example, if you are planning to access NYU facilities on January 25, you should plan to have your test by January 20 (4–5 days before you expect to enter a campus building) in order to ensure you get your test result back in time.
  • Everyone—students in NYU housing, students living off-campus, and employees—who is coming from or spent time outside NY state or its five contiguous neighbors (CT, MA, NJ, PA, VT) will need to quarantine and are required to self report prior to their return using this form (note: residential students returning between January 4 and January 31 do not need to complete this form).
    • The NY State quarantine period is currently 14 days.
    • The state provides for a shorter quarantine period for those who can arrange to get tested in the three-day period prior to their departure for NY and receive a negative result on both that test and on a subsequent test taken at least four days after arrival (the date you arrive is considered Day 0). We recommend that members of the community avail themselves of the shorter quarantine period if they can make the necessary pre-arrival testing arrangements.
  • Students in NYU housing should follow the guidance they have received about their return, and should be sure to fill out the "Travel Arrangements" survey about their travel plans.

* Dates will differ for some schools and programs, such as the Law School. Where general guidance differs from the specific, please follow the specific guidance from your school or program.

COVID-19 Vaccinations

The FDA has already granted Emergency Use Authorization to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, and it is on the cusp of granting Emergency Use Authorization to Moderna’s vaccine—welcome news, particularly against the backdrop of the national surge in cases. A nurse at NYU Langone Health last week became the first member of the NYU community, and one of the first people in the country, to receive the vaccine.

NYU’s COVID-19 Prevention & Response Team is going through the process of applying to be a center for providing vaccinations. Many details remain to be worked out, but our aim is for the University to be in the position of providing COVID-19 vaccinations. Even as the University develops its plans, other organizations (eg, health systems through which NYU community members receive their healthcare) are also undertaking vaccination programs; members of the University community need not wait to use the University's program if another opportunity comes earlier.

We know many NYUers are eager for more information, and some may have received preliminary information from their personal healthcare providers or the health systems with which they are affiliated already. We will continue to communicate promptly with the NYU community about developments.

Keep each other Safe