WESTFIELD- Westfield State University reported four COVID-19 cases in the final full week of the semester to bring the semester total to 110.
The four cases come as students living on campus began moving off campus after the completion of their finals. Fewer COVID-19 tests were administered than in a normal week in the semester. There were 1,042 tests administered last week, about 500 less than usual.
In a letter to the campus community May 4, interim President Dr. Roy H. Saigo said that a limited number of students will remain on campus due to housing insecurity and other exemptions. COVID-19 testing will be mandatory throughout the summer for those students.
Commuter students and those employed through the work study program are not required to be regularly tested for COVID-19.
When students return to Westfield State in the fall, they will be required to be fully inoculated against the coronavirus.
“However, keep in mind that every member of the campus community is encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine. And, as you know, the vaccine is required for students with an on-campus presence beginning in Fall 2021 and it is the expectation that all faculty and staff will be vaccinated by the start of the Fall 2021 semester,” said Saigo in his letter.
Saigo gave his appreciation to students and staff for cooperating with testing mandates and COVID-19 protocols throughout the semester. The conclusion of the Spring 2021 semester marks the first time since the Fall 2019 semester that Westfield State residents were able to remain on campus for the duration of the semester.
“Thank you for your continued cooperation and participation with our health and safety protocols on campus throughout the spring semester. I also extend my appreciation to the staff who have played crucial roles in University’s COVID-19 operations throughout the academic year. We really appreciate everyone’s collective efforts in keeping each other safe and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 on campus and in our greater community,” said Saigo.
