UW–Madison : Campus COVID Update: Omicron Increasing On And Off Campus; New Guidance For Testing

Press release from the University of Wisconsin-Madison:

December 21, 2021

The following campus message is being translated into multiple languages. Check back for updates.

Dear students, staff and faculty,

We’re reaching out today with additional public health guidance in response to the latest COVID-19 data nationally, in the local community and on campus.

As Public Health Madison and Dane County (PHMDC) has reported, there are now nearly 150 confirmed cases of the omicron variant in Dane County. This includes samples collected on campus over the past week. This shows that the omicron variant is spreading very rapidly on and off campus, as in other parts of the country and globe. According to the CDC, omicron is already the dominant variant of COVID-19 in the U.S., comprising more than 73 percent of new cases.

This surge comes at a point when many people are traveling and spending time with extended family and friends and when many people have not yet gotten booster doses.

Actions you should take:

test before travel limit your activity Take extra precautions Do not travel or attend gatherings if you are experiencing Get your booster shot

Campus leaders continue to monitor the situation and we will continue to share information with you in the coming weeks.

This press release was produced by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The views expressed here are the author’s own.