Health & Safety Protocols

stickers saying I got my covid-19 vaccine

COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Shots

As of April 12, 2023, the College no longer requires the COVID-19 vaccine for community members. However, the College strongly recommends that all community members follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, including being up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses.

Learn more about vaccines and boosters.

Testing

See the latest requirements and information on the COVID-19 Testing page.

Contact Tracing

Anyone who tests positive through Amherst’s testing program will be given instructions on how to identify and notify their close contacts. The College is no longer informing people’s close contacts for them. A person is considered a close contact if they have been within six feet of a COVID-19 positive person for 15 minutes or more during what is considered the infectious period, which starts 48 hours prior to positive diagnosis or onset of symptoms. If you are informed that you have been identified as a close contact, please consult the Contact Tracing page for details of what to do.

Isolation 

Find the latest requirements for isolation.

Capacity Limits, Events, and Building Access

Updated 9/12/22

  • Residence halls will remain locked at all times. Other buildings will be unlocked during the hours that they are in use and will be accessible by the public, including Val and the fitness center.

  • All campus spaces will operate at 100% capacity. 

  • Visitors will be welcome at College events and will not be required to show proof of vaccination. They will be required to follow our masking protocols, however.

  • Students will be allowed to have visitors in residence halls.

Masking

Updated 4/13/23

Masking is optional and welcomed everywhere on campus. Learn more about masks.

washing hands under a faucet

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette 

All community members, regardless of vaccination status, should follow good hand hygiene. This includes washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean hands BEFORE and AFTER:

  • Touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
  • Touching your mask
  • Touching an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people, such as door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens  

All community members, regardless of vaccination status, should follow good respiratory etiquette. This includes covering coughs and sneezes and keeping hands clean. To help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses:

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
  • Throw used tissues in the trash
  • If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands

Travel

Updated 8/5/22

Anyone who travels is encouraged to follow appropriate COVID-19 protocols and testing is recommended for anyone who has traveled extensively before coming to campus, particularly on public transportation.

STUDENTS
  • Students may leave campus freely. 
FACULTY AND STAFF
  • There are no restrictions on College-sponsored travel.
  • Anyone traveling on College business must follow CDC guidance.
close-up of someone opening a swab package to take a covid test

COVID-19 Dashboard

See the results of testing of Amherst College faculty, staff, and students who are being tested routinely on campus. The data are updated every weekday.

Dashboard

Amherst College is anticipating and responding to the impact of COVID-19. We continue to monitor the situation and are in contact with state and local public health officials, colleagues at the Five Colleges, and other relevant parties. This site is updated regularly and includes information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other trusted sources.

Questions? Email covidtesting@amherst.edu