With the continued rise in local COVID-19 transmission, Marquette’s indoor masking requirements and quarantine and isolation protocols will remain in place to mitigate risk. Locally, as of Nov. 11, the city of Milwaukee case burden returned to extreme transmission with caseloads trending higher each week. All Wisconsin counties are in very high or critically high transmission status.
Marquette’s indoor mask requirement remains in place. Due to the rising rate of positive cases in Milwaukee and in anticipation of the Omicron variant, the Milwaukee Health Department issued an advisory on Nov. 30 to reinstate using masks indoors in a public setting regardless of vaccination status or past infection. Free disposable masks are available at various places on campus.
Additionally, Marquette University is among hundreds of U.S. universities considered to be federal contractors and, therefore, is working to comply with Executive Order 14042 on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. The Federal Order requires all employees – and students working on federal grants – to be vaccinated. The small number of students that this Federal Order affects have been notified along with the limited number of faculty and staff who have not yet provided proof of vaccination. Currently, 94% of Marquette students and 93% of faculty and staff have provided proof of vaccination.
Unvaccinated students must follow quarantine protocols if a close contact
Unvaccinated students who come into close contact with someone who either tested positive for COVID-19 or was diagnosed with it by a health care provider should self-quarantine for 14 days from the date of this exposure and get tested in 5-7 days. This expectation was outlined via email for those who sought and received a vaccine exemption.
During this 14-day period, students in quarantine should:
- remain in their university-provided rooms for the full 14 days
- not go to work or school, visit other resident rooms or have guests in their rooms
- take their temperatures twice a day – one in the morning and one at night
- monitor for symptoms and contact the MU Medical Clinic at (414) 288-7184 if symptoms arise
To adequately quarantine, you need a separate bedroom and bathroom from others. If you live on campus, consult your residence hall or apartment director to arrange quarantine space. If you live in off-campus housing and cannot meet quarantine guidelines, call Residence Life at 414-288-7208 to request quarantine space. Students may also quarantine off-campus with family, but must travel by private car and not use public transportation to return home. Please review the full guidelines about quarantine and monitoring your health.
COVID-19 positive students living on campus receive holistic support
Students who test positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate for 10 days. The Office of Residence Life works closely with students who live on campus who have tested positive for COVID-19 to arrange isolation arrangements. Coordinators are notified only of positive cases among students who live on campus and connect with them to review guidelines and expectations. Isolation support includes: providing room amenities, meal delivery, garbage pickup, mail delivery, fire safety, counseling support, pastoral support and coordination with the Medical Clinic to track and report daily symptoms.
Review more information about isolation guidelines.