Stricter Measures at Franklin At Least Until March 31, 2022
In order to protect our community’s return to campus after travel and because the COVID infection rate remains high in Ticino and Switzerland, Franklin will maintain stricter measures than the Swiss authorities at least until March 31, 2022. These measures include:
- Franklin continues to mandate FFP2 or equivalent masks in all classrooms, meeting spaces (conference rooms, offices, etc.), libraries, auditorium, hallways and common areas of residence halls, and shared offices until March 31, 2022.
- All Franklin employees are required to wear a FFP2 or equivalent masks when they are in the same indoor space as others.
- Masks are required for Food Service staff and students who prepare food for events and programs.
- Entrance to the Tone Athletic Center (TAC) requires a 3g COVID certificate and it is optional to wear a mask.
- Entrance to events/programs requires either a 3g COVID certificate or the requirement to wear a mask.
- Masks and registration are both required for visitors to the Franklin campus.
- Masks are strongly recommended in all indoor areas, including the Dining Hall and Grotto when you are not eating/drinking.
- Students without fever who may be experiencing allergies or slight cold symptoms may attend classes but must be vigilant about wearing FFP2 or equivalent masks and adhere strictly to hygiene rules: social distancing and frequent hand washing/sanitizing.
- All community members are encouraged to follow the hygiene guidelines and maintain 1.5 meters distance from others. Use hand sanitizer when you cannot use soap and water to wash your hands.
Masks are required on public transportation and in healthcare institutions in Switzerland until March 31
Masks are required on public transportation and in healthcare institutions (pharmacies, hospitals, medical clinics, etc.) until March 31, 2022. Individual establishments may still stipulate that visitors must wear a mask.
Situation On Campus
Since the last community update on February 28, five positive cases of COVID-19 were reported by individuals who were present on campus during the five days before their diagnosis. Individuals who had close contact without masks were identified during the contact tracing and asked to follow these instructions, get a COVID test (a Rapid Antigen COVID test is FREE by scheduling one at a local pharmacy), monitor their symptoms, and wear a mask at all times. Franklin students who test positive must present a negative COVID test result to medicalservices@fus.edu before returning to class, campus buildings, or campus activities. Franklin employees must submit a negative COVID test result to VP Tomaso Rizzi before returning to campus.
Employee Related
As indicated in the Pandemic Protection Plan, meetings should preferably be held by video conferencing instead of face-to-face through March 31, 2022. Any face-to-face meetings must be held in well-ventilated rooms, with a limited number of people suitable for the size of the room: all the participants must wear FFP2 or equivalent masks. The meeting organizer is responsible for setting up a Zoom/Teams link to share with individuals who request to join online. The meeting room must be regularly aired at the beginning and end of the meeting by the meeting organizer or designee, and when feasible, the windows will be left open during the meeting. The recommendation to work from home has been lifted and Franklin encourages employees to discuss their work situation with their supervisor and to refer to the Pandemic Protection Plan.
Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to prepare for their course registration for summer and fall 2022 this coming week.