Apr

The Way Ahead Update: Several locations enter Medium Community Level

Smithsonian locations in the National Capital Region (including SCBI and SERC) as well as those in the Boston, Massachusetts area will enter a Medium COVID-19 Community Level category effective today. New York City locations made this change last week. Currently, all other Smithsonian locations are in Low COVID-19 Community Level.

The following additional mitigation measures shall be implemented at all Smithsonian owned or leased facilities in the Medium Level.

Effective tomorrow, April 27 (already in effect in NYC):

Masks: All on-site staff, including contractors and official visitors, will be encouraged to wear a mask inside Smithsonian facilities.
Work activities: While there are no capacity restrictions, offices should reconsider in-person group activities and implement hybrid or virtual options as feasible.
Travel: Director-level approval is required for all travel.

Effective Monday, May 2 (effective Saturday, 4/30 in NYC):

Official Visitors: All official visitors must show proof of vaccination or proof of a recent negative COVID test upon arrival.
Events: All event guests must show proof of vaccination or proof of a recent negative COVID test upon arrival.
Contractors: All contractors must have proof of vaccination or attestation on record with their COTR or show proof of a recent negative COVID test upon arrival.

Effective the week of May 9 (for all locations in Medium):

Screening Testing Program: Employees (federal and trust) who report on-site to facilities in the NCR, New York City and Boston and have not provided proof of vaccination will be enrolled in the Smithsonian’s screening testing program. Additional details will be provided by your unit.
Affiliated staff who are not fully vaccinated will not be enrolled in this program, but must have their proof of vaccination on file with OHS or must arrive on-site with a recent negative COVID test.
If you have been vaccinated and have not yet submitted your proof-of-vaccination documentation, please email an image of your documentation to Occupational Health Services (OHS) at OHS-MedicalReview@si.edu and include the name of your unit in the subject line.

These heightened safety mitigation measures apply to employees, affiliated staff, contractors and official visitors. Employees in all locations should be aware that their category level could change and take steps to be prepared for any additional required safety mitigations. If you are scheduled to travel to a site in Medium, you must follow the safety requirements of the location you are visiting.

As always, everyone should continue to answer their Daily Health Questions each day before reporting on-site to Smithsonian facilities and shall follow the directions based on their responses. Additionally, please continue to report any COVID-19 positive cases so that Occupational Health Services can conduct contact tracing.

Public visitation safety measures remain unchanged at this time. The Way Ahead website describes the mitigation measures in each level and has been updated to reflect the current statuses. Please visit that site to learn more about the safety mitigation measures for staff and the public.

The change to Medium will not impact the transition to Smithsonian’s new Telework and Remote Work Plan and the WebTA guidance recently published. We ask that you continue to ensure that you have approved telework agreements in place and code your timecards per the guidance.

Thank you for your flexibility and adherence to Smithsonian’s safety measures. The steps you take protect not just yourself, but also your colleagues and the Smithsonian community. If you have questions about this message or other COVID-specific topics, please email SI-CoronavirusInfo@si.edu.

Stay COVID Safe,

OSHEM COVID Program

s.si.edu/COVID-19