COVID-19 UPDATES AND PLANNING

The Erie County Department of Health provides a calendar of COVID-19 vaccine clinics for Erie County, PA.

The Erie County Department of Health provides a calendar of COVID-19 testing sites for Erie County, PA.

Any Mercyhurst community member who has tested positive for COVID-19 should follow these steps:

1. Put on a high-quality mask and isolate yourself from others. 
2. Call the COVID-19 hotline (814-824-3600) to report positive results. 
3. Complete a required isolation period, as advised by The COVID-19 Response Team.

Any Mercyhurst community member who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should seek out symptomatic testing through an antigen (at-home) test or through their health care provider, as well as wear a high-quality mask during this time. 

Individuals with private health insurance coverage or who are covered by a group health plan are eligible to have up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests covered by their insurance provider per month.

Many rapid antigen test kits expiration dates have been extended. Please refer to the FDA website to check on expiration date extensions. If your test kits are confirmed as expired, please dispose of them and obtain new test kits. 

All residential students should make a plan to isolate off campus. University-provided isolation space is extremely limited, and will be assigned only to students who demonstrate an urgent need for such accommodations. Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are housed in designated isolation spaces will likely be placed with other students who have also tested positive. 

Isolating at home is often the best, most comfortable, option for students. If factors prevent a student from returning home, there may be other relatives or friends who are able to offer those accommodations. University-provided facilities are limited, and will be assigned to students who demonstrate an emergent need for isolation space. 

No. However, Mercyhurst strongly recommends that all students taking courses on campus and all university employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as receiving booster vaccines, once eligible. Individuals are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose of a two-dose series (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson)

You can upload your COVID-19 vaccination documentation via our secure online form. You must enter all seven digits of your Mercyhurst ID number (including any leading zeros). That number can be found on your OneCard, in Self-Service, or your Admissions Portal if you are a new student.

• Vaccines provide strong protection against severe side effects and hospitalization as a result of COVID-19.
• Receiving an additional vaccine dose boosts existing immunity from the primary vaccine series.
• Vaccines are proven to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in congregate living facilities, including residence halls.
• Recent studies have shown that fully vaccinated individuals are far less likely to spread COVID-19, compared to those who are unvaccinated.

Johns Hopkins University provides a Coronovirus Resource Center, which hosts helpful answers to the most common vaccination questions, a vaccine tracker, and the most recent news on COVID-19 vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offer responses to Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 vaccines.

Students and employees are no longer required to wear masks on campus. We recommend that all community members stay up to date on current masking guidance via the CDC website. Wearing a N95 or KN95 mask is proven to protect against COVID-19, even in instances of one-way masking.

All international travelers should follow CDC recommendations and requirements for travel. Travel for university purposes, (e.g., conferences, student trips) may resume through normal departmental approval procedures. If travel is approved, the individuals representing Mercyhurst on this trip must abide by the regulations for travelers entering the destination and upon return.