COVID-19 Health Precautions

Required Health Protocols

The following measures have been adopted in consultation with experts at UChicago Medicine (UCM), and with consideration of public health guidance at the city, state and national levels. Please remember that we are still in a dynamic COVID-19 environment. These required protocols may change as the public health situation evolves.



  • Individuals with symptoms of respiratory illness should get tested and wear a mask around others until the symptoms are gone. In other circumstances, the decision to mask is your own; we ask everyone to be courteous of others and respect their choices. Note that the University of Chicago Medicine maintains its own masking policies.



  • We are grateful that the vast majority of University employees and students have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. We strongly recommend staying up to date on CDC vaccine recommendations, including the guidance that people 12 years and older should receive an updated booster that targets the more recent Omicron subvariants.


  • Hand Washing

    Everyone is expected to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in a public place, touching surfaces often touched by others, and after nose blowing, coughing, sneezing, or eating. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of the hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

    Wash your hands graphic, providing details on how to correctly wash your hands to kill bacteria.

    – Image Courtesy of UChicago Medicine

    Disinfection

    Workspaces and frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

  • Travelers should continue to take precautions following domestic or international travel and note that recommendations concerning those precautions (testing, quarantine, etc.) continue to evolve. Please refer to the City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health Travel Guidance and the CDC’s Travel Assessment for recommendations which may vary depending on the state or country from which individuals are traveling from and other health factors.


  • If you believe that a required COVID-19 safety policy or practice is not being followed, you should report the incident to your supervisor, academic leader, or via the University of Chicago Accident Incident Reporting (UCAIR).