Keep HBS Healthy

• A well-fitting mask is always required indoors. Consider wearing a cloth mask over a surgical or KN-95 mask to ensure good filtration and a good seal.
• Each member of the Harvard community can find their updated testing cadence requirement by logging into Crimson Clear, but you can test more often if you need to.
• You can find the School's latest testing data on the Harvard Business School Dashboard (log-in required).
• If you're experiencing symptoms, please complete a Self Assessment on Crimson Clear, which will initiate a consultation with Harvard University Health Services (HUHS). Please wait for guidance from HUHS before returning to campus activity.
• MBA students have modified COVID guidelines. Log-in for current details.

COVID testing will remain a part of the University's ongoing efforts to track and limit the coronavirus within our community. Each member of the Harvard community can find their updated testing cadence requirement by logging into Crimson Clear. You will also receive regular text and email notifications reminding you of your next testing day. You will need to set up your Color account at Color.com before you test for the first time. Please see instructions on how to correctly self-test.

Upon return to campus for the spring semester, all students should test 3 times your first week back (ideally on day 1, day 4 or 5, and day 7 or 8); then follow your Color notifications. For faculty, staff, and researchers, if you have been away from campus, you are required to submit a test immediately upon arriving to campus.

If you receive a positive test result through a provider outside of Harvard’s coronavirus testing system, have a positive rapid test, have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, or are experiencing symptoms please complete a Self Assessment on Crimson Clear, which will initiate a response from Harvard University Health Services (HUHS). Please wait for guidance from HUHS before returning to campus activity.

Crimson Clear is used to communicate an individual's testing cadence, to confirm that booster information has been received, and submit a vaccine exemption. In addition, please use Crimson Clear to report when you are experiencing COVID symptoms, have a recent exposure to a positive case, or test positive outside of our program. When you do so, HUHS can follow up to provide you with health guidance.

In the time between receiving your positive test result and moving into isolation, it’s incredibly important to minimize your movement and exposure to others. If you are off campus, do not come to campus for any reason. If you receive a positive result while you are on campus for the day, gather your belongings and go home immediately.

Additionally:

• Isolation protocols at Harvard are informed by the CDC, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), and other public health experts.
• Infected individuals with no symptoms, or resolving symptoms and no fever, may end strict isolation after 5 full days (isolation ending on day 6).
• After the 5 days you must wear a mask at all times when leaving your home or when around others until after 10 full days post infection. This means no dining with others and no other mask-free activities until day 11.
• Additional requirements apply to specific settings, including healthcare and campus child care.
• Individuals who test positive should identify and notify their close contacts. HUHS will no longer be doing this due to the high volume. Email communication from HUHS following a positive test notification will provide guidance on notifying close contacts.

To reach the contract tracing team please call 617-496-2288 or email Contact_Tracing_Questions@huhs.harvard.edu. When emailing, please be concise but include as all relevant details, including the infected person's identity, exposures of concern, and who you are, along with your contact phone number. Please be patient and do not call or email repeatedly.

If you have been exposed to a COVID-positive community member and are considered a close contact:

• If you are fully vaccinated and boosted you will not be required to quarantine provided you have submitted proof of vaccination and booster to HUHS and are not experiencing symptoms.
• If you have not received a booster shot, you must quarantine for 5 days after exposure.
• If you are unvaccinated and receive a notification to quarantine, it’s incredibly important to minimize your movement and exposure to others.

Please note, the term isolation refers to a positive COVID-19 case. Quarantine refers to close contacts who have not yet tested positive, but are unvaccinated or are recommended by their care provider to limit contact with others. Isolation is more restrictive than quarantine. The only reason one can break isolation is for an emergency or a medical appointment. People who are quarantined can leave their dwelling to pick up and submit COVID tests.

Masks are required at all times indoors for everyone regardless of vaccination status, except when alone in a private space (e.g., individual office) with the door closed or when actively eating in a dining area. Harvard may revisit this in the future. Anyone who feels uncomfortable without a mask is encouraged to wear one whenever and wherever they would like.

Masks remain critical in reducing the spread of COVID-19. We encourage the use of high-quality disposable masks, worn in a way that minimizes air gaps around the edges. Surgical-style masks (which are effective and used widely in hospital settings) or cup-style protective masks such as KN-95, layered under a form-fitting fabric mask, can ensure good filtration as well as an effective seal. Face coverings that are worn loosely will not offer strong protection.

Use common sense when outdoors. Wear a mask if you’re in a crowd or close to another’s face. If unvaccinated, you’re required to mask outdoors whenever you’re within 6 feet of other people; you must also maintain distance from others when dining indoors.

Dining will shift for the foreseeable future to grab-and-go options, indoor seating will be spread out and limited, and events that include food and beverage are restricted. Please plan accordingly and eat alone or bundle up and join others outdoors when the weather allows. Dining is not permitted in classrooms. Masks must be worn at all times unless actively eating or drinking, and unvaccinated individuals are encouraged to protect themselves by distancing when eating.

Booster shots are required for all members of the community by 31 January, or within 30 days of your eligibility to receive a booster, whichever comes first. Details on how to find and schedule a shot and upload your proof of vaccination are outlined on the University's COVID-19 Vaccine & Booster Information page.

Members of the Harvard community can claim exemptions to the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons. Students claiming an exemption should complete the Student Vaccine Exemption Form. Faculty, staff, and researchers wishing to note an exemption to the vaccine requirement can do so through Crimson Clear, which you can access from the Verify Your Vaccination webpage. Unvaccinated persons (regardless of the reason) will be subject to additional public health measures, including extra testing, above and beyond what is required of vaccinated individuals.

If you’re planning Harvard-related travel, domestic or international, in January, we urge you to consider whether it is necessary at this time and cannot be postponed. If you must travel, you are required to satisfy the University’s COVID-19 vaccination and booster requirements. In addition, please review the University’s travel guidance for more information and register all international travel in advance.

MBA students: please see "Group travel" under "Guidelines for the New Normal" on the Current Guidelines page (log-in required).

Outdoors: Vaccinated individuals are not required to mask or distance outdoors, including while eating/drinking. Unvaccinated individuals should continue to protect themselves while on campus by practicing physical distancing when possible, especially when unmasked.

Indoors: Masks are required for everyone indoors except when actively eating/drinking (consume and cover applies). While vaccinated individuals are not required to distance indoors, it’s a best practice to maintain distance when possible. Unvaccinated individuals should continue to protect themselves while on campus by practicing physical distancing, especially when unmasked.

While the University no longer requires that vaccinated persons observe physical distance requirements, either indoors or outdoors, it’s a best practice to maintain distance when possible. Unvaccinated persons are still required to maintain physical distancing indoors.