Updates

With the current increase in COVID-19 cases in Colorado and our local area, it is important that research activities adjust accordingly. The key to our past and future success in minimizing our risks of COVID will depend on our ongoing vigilance to mask usage and social distancing.

With this change to CDPHE ‘Safer Level 3/Orange’ for Adams County/our campus, we will take the following actions:

• Clinical Trials: Suspend the opening of new trials in category 5, except for 5b (please refer to the Group Ranking of Clinical Research Protocols). This will not affect trials that are currently open, nor will it affect the opening of Category 1-4 trials.

• Community Research: The opening of new community research projects will be suspended, unless the planned activity takes place in a lower risk location. This will not affect currently open community research protocols.

• Research Labs: The laboratory spaces will continue current capacity levels and distancing guidance. Additional personnel counts and compliance confirmation will be performed by the COVID Officials and the Environment Health and Safety team.

• Vivarium: Operations will continue in their current format. Additional audits to confirm that all personnel working in the vivarium have scheduled their work through the EMS system will be performed to confirm social distancing requirements are being followed

• Occupational Health: As we are seeing more cases in Colorado, it is critical for all members of our campus community to report COVID symptoms and/or exposure. Over the last several months, we have added new campus capacity for contact tracing and COVID testing. For contact tracing to be successful, please report any relevant symptoms, known COVID exposures, or personal COVID testing to our self-reporting form. In most cases, we will initiate case investigation and if applicable, contact tracing, within 24 hours. If you have any questions regarding expected procedures, please visit the CU Anschutz Coronavirus Website or contact the Occupational Health Infection Prevention Specialist, Olivia Zarella, at (720) 515-8636.