Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As you know, we are continuing to actively monitor the COVID-19 trends and positivity rates across our campus, city, and state, and to advocate to city and state officials that they include faculty and staff at institutes of higher education in earlier phases if possible.

Update to CDPH Eligibility Definitions
Based on what the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has announced so far, Chicago remains in phase 1B, meaning that individuals age 65 and older and specific groups of highest-risk and frontline essential workers are currently eligible for vaccination.

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced last week that they will not be expanding vaccine eligibility in phase 1B, given current vaccine supply levels. This means that all university faculty and staff will be eligible for vaccination in phase 1C (which also currently includes all other essential workers and Chicagoans ages 16–64 with underlying medical conditions).

As a reminder, CDPH currently anticipates that phase 1C will begin sometime after March 29, subject to change by public health officials. Phase 2, which includes all Chicagoans age 16 and older, is currently estimated to begin at the end of May, according to CDPH.

Campus Surveillance Testing Results
We are happy to report that our last two campus COVID-19 surveillance tests (conducted on February 2 and February 9) both yielded a zero percent positivity among those surveyed.

These positivity rates are a direct result of your diligent efforts to adhere to university and public health guidance and protocols, and for that, we thank you. However, as rates continue to trend in the right direction, we must remain vigilant in our adherence to all social distancing, wearing face coverings, hand washing, and other applicable guidance.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to navigating this pandemic together.

Sincerely,

Alan W. Cramb
President, Illinois Institute of Technology

Peter Kilpatrick
Provost, Illinois Institute of Technology