Dear Campus Community,

With the holiday break quickly approaching and the Spring semester just around the corner, UF is monitoring the rising prevalence of the omicron variant around the country. As we learn more about this new strain of COVID-19, UF Health is recommending that people wear N95 or KN95 masks in public settings rather than cloth or surgical masks, which don’t fit as closely to the face. As a reminder, masks and other supplies are available to faculty and staff through each unit’s HR liaison for use in connection with assigned duties or can be purchased for personal use at Office Depot through the UF GatorPerks program.

As we’ve stressed many times, vaccinations and boosters are our most powerful tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as well as illness and death. If you haven’t been vaccinated or received a booster, please visit ONE.UF to make an appointment or visit UF Health’s webpage for a list of community vaccination sites. Flu vaccines are also widely available and can be administered at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot. Masks continue to be expected in all UF buildings and hand washing and other healthy habits continue to be encouraged.

As always, thank you for your work to help keep our community safe. We hope everyone has a healthy and joyful holiday break.

Joe Glover, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Charlie Lane, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

D’Andra Mull, Vice President for Student Life

David R. Nelson, Senior Vice President for Health Affairs, UF & President, UF Health

David Norton, Vice President for Research

Win Phillips, Chief of Staff, Office of the President