COVID Weekly Updates

COVID Updates from Previous Weeks

For the week of May 15

  • No new updates

For the week of May 8

  • No new updates

For the week of May 1

  • No new updates

For the week of April 24

  • No new updates

For the week of April 17

  • No new updates

For the week of April 10

  • No new updates

For the week of April 3

  • No new updates

For the week of March 27

  • No new updates

For the week of March 20

  • No new updates

For the week of March 13

For the week of March 6

  • No new updates

For the week of Feb. 27

  • No new updates

For the week of Feb. 20

  • No new updates

For the week of Feb. 13

  • No new updates

For the week of Feb. 6

  • No new updates

For the week of Jan. 30

  • No new updates

For the week of Jan. 23

  • No new updates

For the week of Jan. 16

  • No new updates

For the week of Jan. 9

  • No new updates

For the week of Jan. 2

  • No new updates

For the week of Dec. 19

  • No new update

For the week of Dec. 12

  • No new update

For the week of Dec. 5

  • No new updates

For the week of Nov. 28

  • No new updates

For the week of Nov. 21

  • No new updates

For the week of Nov. 14

  • No new updates

For the week of Nov. 7

  • Please check your email for the message to campus about COVID guidelines, sent the afternoon of 11/7/2022 or read the email here

For the week of Oct. 31:

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics on Campus:

  • Oct. 31, 10 am-4 pm in VU MPR

For the week of Oct. 24:

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics on Campus:

  • Oct. 27, 10 am-4 pm in VU MPR
  • Oct. 31, 10 am-4 pm in VU MPR

For the week of Oct. 17:

Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics on Campus:

  • Cancelled due to smoke-Oct. 19, 12 noon -4 pm in Flag Plaza-Cancelled
  • Oct. 27, 10 am-4 pm in VU MPR
  • Oct. 31, 10 am-4 pm in VU MPR

For the week of Oct. 10:

  • Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics on Campus:

    Oct. 19, 12 noon -4 pm in Flag Plaza

For the week of Oct. 3:

  • No new updates

For the week of Sept 26:

  • No new updates

For the week of Sept 19:

  • No new updates

For the week of Sept 12:

  • Please check your email for the Fall public health update for new and returning students and employees sent the afternoon of 9/9/22, or read the email here.

For the week of Sept 5:

  • No recent updates

For the week of August 29:

  • No recent updates

For the week of August 22:

  • No recent updates

For the week of August 15:

  • No recent updates

For the week of August 8:

  • No recent updates

For the week of August 1:

  • No recent updates

For the week of July 25th:

  • No recent updates

For the week of July 18th:

  • No recent update

For the week of July 11th:

  • No recent updates

For the week of July 4th:

  • No new updates

For the week of June 27th:

  • Voluntary employee testing through NW Labs will be discontinued as of June 30. Employees are encouraged to use at home tests or contact their medical insurance for testing over the summer. See the Health and Safety site for links.

For the week of June 20th:

  • No new updates

For the week of June 13:

  • No recent updates

For the week of June 6:

  • No recent updates

For the week of May 30th:

  • COVID Coordination and Support has transitioned to COVID Coordination Resilience under the new department Risk, Ethics, Safety and Resilience.
  • No booster shots will be required for students or employees for fall quarter.

For the week of May 23rd:

  • No recent updates

For the week of May 16th:

  • No recent updates

For the week of May 9th:

  • No recent updates

For the week of May 2nd:

For the week of April 25th:

  • Masking and hygiene signage for individual offices and departments can be downloaded on the visual aids and posters page
  • Student employees only need to submit their booster status through the student process, not both processes as stated in a previous email
  • Masks are not currently required on Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) buses
  • Mandatory weekly testing for individuals with exemptions from the vaccine requirement will be scaling down to only require testing if Whatcom is a high level of COVID community levels
    • Because of this, the COVID clearance pass will generally no longer reflect if a student is overdue for testing

For the week of April 18th:

  • Student employees only need to submit their booster status through the student process, not both processes as stated in a previous email
  • Masks are not currently required on Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA) buses
  • Mandatory weekly testing for individuals with exemptions from the vaccine requirement will be scaling down to only require testing if Whatcom is a high level of COVID community levels
    • Because of this, the COVID clearance pass will generally no longer reflect if a student is overdue for testing

For the week of April 11th:

For the week of April 4th:

For the week of March 28th:

  • No recent updates

For the week of March 21st:

  • No recent updates

For the week of March 14th:

  • Western will continue requiring masking in indoor public spaces until April 11

For the week of March 7th:

  • Western will continue requiring masking in indoor public spaces until April 11
  • State and Federal entities announce more free home tests are available to order. More Info Here 

For the week of February 28th:

  • As a reminder, Western will continue requiring masking in public indoor settings through winter quarter (March 18). Prior to the end of the quarter, mask requirements and guidance for intersession and spring quarter will be communicated.
  • March 2nd, WA State and Federal Govt announce more free home tests available to order. More Info Here 
  • Please check your Western email for a comprehensive update sent the morning of 02/23/22, or read the email here.
  • Beginning March 1st, Western will no longer require proof of vaccination or negative test for on-campus visitors

For the week of February 21st:

  • Please check your Western email for a comprehensive update sent the morning of 02/23/22, or read the email here.
  • Beginning March 1st, Western will no longer require proof of vaccination or negative test for on-campus visitors
  • February 18th: Masks no longer required at Western outdoor events with more than 500 people. 
  • Indoor masking is still required at Western at this time. Western is still working with local health officials to determine when Western can lift our indoor mask mandate, and will have a decision communicated out prior to spring quarter. 

For the week of February 14th:

  • February 18th: Masks no longer required at Western Outdoor Events with more than 500 people. 
  • Indoor masking is still required at Western at this time. 
  • Western continues to monitor all announced WA State COVID Safety Updates including indoor masking and will provide campus updates as soon as any Western COVID Safety Practice Updates are made officially.
  • On Campus COVID Vaccine Clinic: Friday, Feb. 18th, at Alma Clark Glass Hall, 4th Floor:
    Open to all Western Students, Staff, Families (12 years old and older) and alumni.
    Registration Required: Register HERE

For the week of February 7th:

  • No recent updates

For the week of January 31st:

  • No recent updates

For the week of January 24th:

For the week of January 17th:

For the week of January 10th:

  • Tips for how to care for you N95 or KN95 can be found on the Health and Safety page. 
  • Frontline employees at Western can now order free KN95 masks for their area on Western Marketplace.
  • Western has adopted updated CDC guidance for isolation and quarantine. Information can be found on the Health and Safety page.
  • Western will be moving to remote learning until January 24. See President's message for more details.

For the week of January 3rd:

  • Per guidance from WA DOH and our local health department, Western will not implement the new CDC guidance for isolation and quarantine. The updated guidance is for the general public and does not yet apply to certain sectors, such as institutions of higher education. 
  • First week of winter quarter classes (Jan 4th-7th) will be remote. See president's message above.
  • Planning for 4 COVID booster vaccine clinics on campus is underway:
    • Jan 7th- appointments full 
    • Jan 21st- appointments to open soon
    • Jan 26th- appointments to open soon
    • Feb 4th- appointments to open soon
  • Western's Leadership Forum from November 18, 2021 can now be viewed online. We apologize for the delay in sharing this video with the campus community. 

For the week of December 27th:

  • Per guidance from WA DOH and our local health department, Western will not implement the new CDC guidance for isolation and quarantine. The updated guidance is for the general public and does not yet apply to certain sectors, such as institutions of higher education. 
  • First week of winter quarter classes (Jan 4th-7th) will be remote. 
  • Planning for 4 COVID booster vaccine clinics on campus is underway:
    • Jan 7th- appointments full 
    • Jan 21st- appointments to open soon
    • Jan 26th- appointments to open soon
    • Feb 4th- appointments to open soon

For the week of December 20

  • First week of winter quarter classes (Jan 4th-7th) will be remote. 
  • Planning for 4 COVID booster vaccine clinics on campus is underway:
    • Jan 7th- appointments full 
    • Jan 21st- appointments to open soon
    • Jan 26th- appointments to open soon
    • Feb 4th- appointments to open soon

For the week of December 13

  • Results from the student COVID satisfaction survey are now viewable online. 

For the week of December 6

  • Results from the student COVID satisfaction survey are now viewable online. 

For the week of November 29:

  • No recent updates

For the week of November 22:

  • No recent updates

For the week of November 15:

  • No recent updates

For the week of November 7:

  • Additional clarification added to Western's masking guidance: Individuals who are attending virtual classes/meetings/events from a public space on campus must remain masked. 
  • Individuals who are looking for a way to provide proof of vaccination can now utilize the WA Verify program to access their vaccination records to show when attending events.

For the week of November 1:

  • Additional clarification added to Western's masking guidance: Individuals who are attending virtual classes/meetings/events from a public space on campus must remain masked. 
  • Individuals who are looking for a way to provide proof of vaccination can now utilize the WA Verify program to access their vaccination records to show when attending events.
  • Testing recommendations for individuals who have been exposed to COVID have revised by the CDC and are now reflected on the Health and Safety page, as well as updated in exposure notifications. Fully vaccinated people who were a close contact of a positive case and are not experiencing symptoms should get tested 5-7 days after the exposure, instead of the previous guidance of 3-5 days after exposure.

For the week of October 25:

  • Testing recommendations for individuals who have been exposed to COVID have revised by the CDC and are now reflected on the Health and Safety page, as well as updated in exposure notifications. Fully vaccinated people who were a close contact of a positive case and are not experiencing symptoms should get tested 5-7 days after the exposure, instead of the previous guidance of 3-5 days after exposure.

For the week of October 18:

For the week of October 11:

  • Information has been added to the Health and Safety page about what the notification process looks like when a student or employee tests positive.
  • Information has been added to the Classes and Academics page about classroom exposure notices and illness in classes.
  • Information has been added to Western's guidance for visitors on campus page to help university employees know what to look for when checking proof of vaccination and negative tests.
  • Additional clarification has been added to Western's guidance for visitors on campus. Individuals accessing services at campus clinical settings are not considered sponsored visitors, and do not need to provide proof of vaccination/negative test result. 
  • Additional clarification has been added to Western's masking guidance for residence halls.

For the week of October 4:

  • Additional clarification has been added to Western's masking guidance for residence halls: Masking in on-campus housing: Masks must be worn in all indoor public and common areas. This includes spaces such as: lounges, kitchens, hallways, stairways, restrooms, elevators and lobbies. Students do not have to wear a mask in their suite, room, or apartment. This is the only exception to the policy.
  • Beginning October 4, students and instructors will receive notice to their Western email if there has been a positive case in one of their in-person classes, within 24 hours of Western being notified of the case. Buildings where positive cases have been on-campus will be  posted online within 24 hours as well for the Western community to view. 
  • Suppliers, vendors, and contractors working on-site at any WWU facility must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive an approved exemption no later than by October 18. For more information, please see Information for Contractors.
  • Beginning October 18, sponsored Western visitors will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in order to be on campus. For more information, please see Requirements for Visiting WWU.

For the week of September 27:

Week of September 20, 2021

  • Beginning October 18, sponsored Western visitors will be required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in order to be on campus. 
  • The Student Health Center will be offering free J&J vaccines to Western students and employees every Thursday. Students can make an appointment in their MyWestern Health Portal and employees can call the SHC at 360-650-3400 to make an appointment. 
  • The recording of the September 9 Fall Opening Q&A is now available.

Week of September 13, 2021

  • The recording of last week's Fall Opening Q&A will be posted online by the end of this week
  • Most campus buildings are now open to their pre-pandemic hours
    • Buildings such as Wilson Library/Haggard Hall, Viking Union, and others follow a different schedule. Please check their respective websites for operational hours