September 8, 2021

Dear Students,

Today, 105 of you reported testing positive for COVID-19. This number may be discouraging and anxiety-inducing, and we need your help to safeguard our community.

If you or one of your close contacts has tested positive, here's what you should do:

On-campus isolation space is near capacity. Most UD students living on-campus who test positive should expect to isolate at their permanent home residence. Our limited on-campus isolation spaces will be reserved for those students who do not have the option to return to their permanent home residences.

The rise in cases at UD matches the situation in Delaware and the nation, with the increases due primarily to the virus’ Delta variant. While more than 90 percent of you are fully vaccinated, the Delta variant is highly contagious and has infected some vaccinated individuals.

In classrooms and indoor campus spaces, mask use and physical distancing continue to be highly effective at slowing the spread of the virus. However, large off-campus gatherings are fueling the rise in cases. If COVID cases continue to rise, the City of Newark will again restrict the size of gatherings, as it did last year. As a reminder, the city still has an unruly gathering ordinance, which punishes party hosts cited for noise, public intoxication or other violations; violators face a $500 fine and mandatory 20 hours of community service, as well as referral to UD’s Office of Student Conduct.

To learn how you can help protect the UD community, more information is available at udel.edu/coronavirus.

Remember, every Blue Hen can help Protect the Flock. Please act responsibly.

José-Luis Riera
Vice President for Student Life

Dr. Timothy Dowling
Director of Student Health Services