Spring 2021 Arrival Details
Thanks for your flexibility and patience as we monitor the virus and consult with public health experts, and state and county officials. Presently, we are advising all students who are traveling to our campus communities or nearby residences to plan to arrive beginning Friday, Jan. 29. Please note that this advice is always subject to change due to virus conditions or additional public health guidance.
Students and families should carefully read and understand the following COVID-19 Medical Response Office guidance, as it has changed since the fall term due to updates in state and federal guidance. Some of our advice is more conservative than the state, so please be sure to follow our guidance below.
Before You Travel
Shelter in place for at least seven days prior to traveling.
Day 1 of the 7-day shelter-in-place:
Pitt will provide one COVID-19 test through Quest for all students returning to our campus communities in order to maximize a safe return. The test should be taken and returned to Quest on the first day of the seven-day shelter-in-place period prior to travel to campus. Students should register for the test to be delivered to their current location as soon as possible.
Whether you live on or off campus, students traveling from out of state are required by the state to have a negative test result.
If you live in University housing on the Pittsburgh campus, you will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test result to enter University housing. This is to maximize the safety of all of our residents. Read more about testing for Pittsburgh campus residential students. For the sake of everyone’s health, if you do not provide Pitt with your negative test result, you will have to move into alternate housing.
After Travel: Shelter-in-place for at least 10 days
After arriving, you should shelter in place for at least 10 days, whether you live on or off campus. A University-wide shelter-in-place period will begin on Friday, Jan. 29, on all campuses. The shelter-in-place period will remain in effect until the CMRO advises that it is safe to lift, and will be in place at least 10 days after the last cohort arrives.
Friday, January 29: University Residence Halls Open, Cohort 1 Arrives, University-Wide Shelter-in-Place Begins
University residence halls will begin to open on Friday, Jan. 29. Pittsburgh campus students will return in a phased, cohort-based arrival on the following dates:
- Cohort 1: Friday, Jan. 29 (University-wide shelter-in-place begins)
- Cohort 2: Sunday, Jan. 31
- Cohort 3: Wednesday, Feb. 3
- Cohort 4: Friday, Feb. 5
Based on the above timelines, the Pittsburgh campus will shelter in place through at least Feb. 15. The regional campuses will shelter-in-place through at least Feb. 10.
Throughout the move-in process, the CMRO will closely monitor student health and campus conditions and may pause or revise the arrival schedule at any time. This approach prioritizes the health and well-being of our University community.
Regional campus students will return beginning Friday, Jan. 29, and throughout that weekend. Panther Central and the regional campus housing offices will email residential students directly with more details, including with their assigned move-in date.
Much like the fall term, we urge you to do the following during the time you’re sheltering in place after travel:
- Limit close contacts. The safest protocol is to limit all close contacts, wear a face covering and be physically distant at all times when around other people. The next best approach is to reestablish pods based on those with whom you cohabitate (a hallmark of quarantine or shelter-in-place protocols). This could be your original pod from campus arrival and move in, but may be different if your housing situation has changed since the fall term. You could be unmasked in the presence of your pod mates. Avoid new close contacts.If you’ve developed a set of close contacts outside your pod, we highly encourage you to use virtual and technology-based connections for socializing during the shelter-in-place period.
- Interact virtually. During the shelter-in-place period, students should only leave their rooms or apartments to attend classes, labs or clinicals in person; pick up food; exercise safely; study in the library; work when necessary; and shop for essentials and medical needs. Group work for classes and student activities should be held virtually. Although it may vary by campus, the University will close some public spaces that are higher risk or difficult to monitor or control.
Surveillance testing will continue on all campuses in the spring term. Students should make every effort to be tested if they are invited via email, even if they had a negative test result prior to traveling. Please check your Pitt email for surveillance testing invitations throughout the term.