Category COVID-19 campus response
COVID-19 booster shots now available
University Health Services (UHS) is now providing a booster, or third shot, of the Pfizer vaccine to students and employees. To make an appointment, use the MyUHS app or web portal. You may also seek appointments off campus including through a health care provider and local pharmacies.
Sept. 23 employee message: Is it COVID-19 or a cold?
Chances are you or someone you know has had a cough, runny nose or other symptoms recently and wondered, is it COVID-19? The answer: not necessarily. Fall is when many kinds of respiratory viruses are active. But don’t let your guard down.
Sept. 16 employee message: Updates on close contacts, testing and more
As expected, campus is seeing a rise in cases, which is likely to continue over the next couple of weeks. The precautions we are all taking on campus – such as getting vaccinated, masking indoors and staying home if sick – remain the appropriate response to protect yourself.
Faculty/staff message: Update after first week of classes
Our 90 percent campus vaccination rate and masking and testing requirements continue to protect our community, although we can expect to see additional positive cases as the more contagious delta variant moves through the broader community.
VCRGE announces second round of funding support for critical campus research
Research activities delayed or negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply for the Pandemic-Affected Research Continuation Initiative.
UW-Madison reports high levels of vaccination
As of Sept. 1, 88 percent of students are fully vaccinated and 91 percent of students have received at least one dose. In addition, 92 percent of employees are fully vaccinated.
Employee message: Campus exceeds vaccination goal
We are pleased to report that 92 percent of employees and 88 percent of students are now fully vaccinated. This high level of vaccination means that we have a robust level of protection on campus.
UW–Madison begins distributing $28.6M in emergency pandemic aid to students
The university's approach to distributing the money includes emergency grants that students with financial need can use to pay off debts or to cover costs such as tuition, food, housing, health care and child care.
Required COVID testing; what to expect this fall
Effective August 30, employees and students who have not shared proof of COVID-19 vaccination with UHS will be required to test weekly on campus.
Study shows virus abundant in COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin, even among fully vaccinated
Vaccination remains critical, researchers David O’Connor and Thomas Friedrich say, since the available vaccines are effective, successful, and help prevent new, dangerous cases.
Changes to campus masking policy
The more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 has led to a steep rise in cases across the country, including here in Wisconsin. Accordingly, effective Thursday, August 5, all students, employees and visitors to campus will be required to wear masks when inside campus buildings.
Latest COVID-19 Response Grants target mental health, ongoing pandemic effects
The Wisconsin Partnership Program has announced 14 awards totaling $2.7 million to community organizations and researchers to address the impact of the pandemic.
MyUHS mobile app is now available to download
UW–Madison students and employees will have a new, enhanced way to schedule COVID-19 tests and other appointments, view their lab results, and more: the MyUHS app from University Health Services. The Safer Badgers app will be discontinued.
As residence halls prepare to welcome back students, survey finds more than 92% plan to be vaccinated
“We’re pleased to see so many students choosing vaccination, which is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19,” says Jeff Novak, director of University Housing. “Having a highly vaccinated community helps protect everyone, including those who cannot be vaccinated.”
Badger Talks: The delta variant
“Luckily, our vaccines ... have been shown to be effective even against this delta variant, so we continue to have protection when we are getting vaccinated,” Devlin Cole says. “But we do now have even more increased risk of getting very, very sick if we’re not vaccinated.”
COVID-19 vaccine boosters: ‘Too soon to know’ if they’re needed
For now, the priority needs to be continuing to provide vaccines to the unvaccinated, says the director of the UW Health Immunization Program.
Covid questions: Mask-wearing, birth rates
Readers ask: Should I still wear a mask? And, how will the pandemic impact birth rates, as well as marriage and divorce? UW–Madison experts respond.
Helping campus reunite
As campus looks to reunite this fall, epidemiologist and Professor of Population Health Sciences Ajay Sethi offers some peace of mind.
Chancellor Blank: What to expect this fall
I’m writing today with an update for faculty and staff about how the university plans to operate during the fall semester.
State health officials now tracking more contagious Delta variant
Wisconsin is seeing a growing number of COVID-19 cases that are "variants of concern," officials said. Vaccination is essential to stop the spread.