Chancellor Collins: Safety first in initial phase of return to UMMS campus

Chancellor Michael F. Collins expressed confidence in the planned phased return to work at UMass Medical School in his weekly video address on Monday, May 18.

Approximately one half of the laboratory research workforce and other essential staff required to maintain the proper functioning of the research operation will begin to return to campus to work on Wednesday, May 20. Other employee groups will be phased in over time, although no other dates have been set. All returning employees in these initial groups will be tested for COVID-19 and will have had a negative test result before returning to campus.

“As we begin to come back to work in our research laboratories this week, much thought and planning has gone into the development of the principles and practices that have been established,” Chancellor Collins said. “I am grateful that so many have worked so hard to ensure that our buildings will be as safe as possible and that measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of giving the virus what it wants: the ability to spread.”

Collins asked the UMass Medical School community to use great care and caution in the months ahead.

“Each of us will need to continue to be vigilant and respectful. Where possible we will need to continue to meet by Zoom. Each time we leave our homes and throughout each day, we will need to assess and report any symptoms, wear our masks and maintain distance as a sign of respect for each other and for the virus,” he said. “We can serve as a model for how to safely and effectively return to work and, with your help and cooperation, I know that other institutions will benefit from the actions we undertake in the days and weeks ahead.”