Feb
10

COVID-19 Team Update: Recent COVID surge is declining, but safeguards remain in place

Banner showing COVID-19 virus

As you may have seen, COVID-19 case numbers are quickly falling in many of the areas where Smithsonian operates, especially in Washington, D.C. and New York City. This is spiriting news, but as we have seen before, it does not mean the pandemic has ended. While we are in a downward trend, case rates are still higher than they were earlier in the pandemic.

Please continue to follow Smithsonian’s safety protocols. Wear the most protective, multi-layer face covering you can while in a Smithsonian facility. Keep a safe distance from those around you and limit the duration of any interaction you have with your coworkers. Do not come to the workplace unless your supervisor has requested you do so. Continue to perform your daily health checks. And most importantly, if you’re sick, stay home!

Vaccination continues to offer the best protection against COVID-19. As such, we encourage all staff to be fully vaccinated and receive boosters against COVID-19. If you have received your booster shot and would like to report your status, please send a picture of your updated vaccination card to Occupational Health Services (OHS) by emailing ohs-medicalreview@si.edu.

OHS continues to track cases and conduct contact investigations. If you were recently diagnosed with or test positive for COVID-19, please report your case to SI-CoronavirusInfo@si.edu. OHS nursing staff will be in touch with you about next steps and, if you are scheduled to be on site, dates for your return. OHS continues to follow CDC guidelines regarding isolation and quarantines. This is a complex process that varies from individual to individual. So please do not report to work on site until speaking with OHS and getting their approval to return to the workplace.

Thank you for continuing to show your care for the Smithsonian community by following the safety protocols we have put in place.

Stay safe, be well, and get vaccinated,
COVID-19 Response Team

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Posted: 10 February 2022
About the Author:

Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.