Covid
Penn to reopen limited indoor dining on March 8
The decision to reopen indoor dining comes after Philadelphia loosened restrictions on dining in the city, Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé said.
Despite semester-low positivity rate, admin. urge caution ahead of days off next week
This week marks the third straight week that the number of undergraduate cases has decreased by over 50%, making this week's undergraduate positivity rate as well as case count a semester low.
Penn student-run letter-writing initiative reaches over 13,000 frontline workers
Lockdown Letters has expanded their reach to target all essential workers, after focusing exclusively on health care workers at the start of the pandemic.
Penn creates automated text-based support system for students in isolation and quarantine
Students with a red PennOpen Pass are automatically enrolled in the COVID Navigator program and receive daily text messages checking in on their well-being.
Penn faculty and staff will not return to in-person work until July at the earliest
The University will also continue to update faculty and staff on plans to return to in-person work, as well as the potential of returning to in-person classes in the fall and research projects, according an email from University administrators.
Penn mental health experts offer four tips to manage stress in quarantine and isolation
While Penn reduced its mandatory quarantine period for students who are exposed to COVID-19, spending this much time physically away from others has proven difficult — emotionally, socially, and academically — for students.
Here's how to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Philadelphia
Anyone living or working in Philadelphia can demonstrate interest in getting the vaccine through a form at the city’s sign-up page or by calling the city’s COVID-19 call center.
Penn State will return to a full on-campus learning environment in fall 2021
The fall semester will closely resemble a traditional instructional experience with a full range of online classes available as well.
Penn responds to fraudulent green PennOpen Passes with new daily code
Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé and Chief Operating Officer for Wellness Services Erika Gross confirmed that students had been creating fake green PennOpen Passes to access campus buildings when they did not actually meet the required criteria to enter that building.
Annenberg Center’s online events allow audiences to watch on-stage performances from home
The livestream events are an hour long, with 40 to 45 minutes of performance and 15 minutes of discussion with the artists, during which audience members can ask the performers questions directly.
White House to open mass vaccination clinic in Philadelphia this week
The new clinic has the potential to double the number of vaccine doses administered in Philadelphia each week.
Penn offers Wellnest app access for students, staff to encourage mindfulness amid pandemic
Wellnest is the newest part of the University's Penn Cares program to help the Penn community cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wharton Exec MBA student launches website to track COVID-19 vaccine appointment availability
Users must input their zip code, select their state, or enable location services and FindAShot automatically finds available appointments, a list of local vaccine providers, and statewide eligibility guidelines.
Drunk, maskless, uncooperative: Student parties place police officers at risk
As students continue to host in-person gatherings in off- and on-campus locations, Penn Police Department officers responding to the parties are voicing concerns over contracting the virus while on the job.
Penn urges students to remain vigilant even as COVID-19 positivity rate reaches semester low
University administrators urged students to remain vigilant in following public health guidelines — particularly after a student was hospitalized due to severe symptoms and two students tested positive for the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant since arriving on campus this semester.
Pottruck Health and Fitness Center reopens to all undergraduate students
Pottruck began a reopening pilot program on Feb. 3 after the Quiet Period ended, with plans to potentially reopen to all students. Chief Wellness Officer Benoit Dubé told The Daily Pennsylvanian on Feb. 23 that the protocols taken during the pilot program “have been shown to work.”
More than 250 Campus Compact violation reports have been filed this spring
The Campus Compact Violation Data Dashboard, which will be updated monthly and was released on Friday, shows that 52% of violations resulted in disciplinary sanctions, 33% in educational interventions, and 14% in campus restrictions.
Philadelphia faces $450 million budget deficit after financial hardship caused by COVID-19
City officials projected that Philadelphia will soon only have enough money in its reserves to run the city for three days.
Penn studies find text message reminders increase vaccine uptake significantly
Although the studies focused on flu vaccines, lead author and Wharton professor Katy Milkman said the findings can be applied to COVID-19 vaccinations.