Dear Research Laboratory DEOs and ASG Members: Please share this message with all faculty and staff ASAP.
Dear Colleagues,
The Office of the Vice President for Research has stated that as of July 1, research labs that opened during Phase 2 ramp-up may exceed the 50% occupancy limit that had previously been imposed. However, mandatory social distancing in research labs is still in place.
The Phase 2 announcement is found here: https://covidresponse.research.uiowa.edu/news/2020/06/research-ramp-phase-2-announced. Please note the bold addition to that page:
[Note: the 50% occupancy guideline is no longer in effect as of July 1, 2020]
Each lab worker should maintain ~144 square feet of space around their work area. If you have sufficient space for this at full occupancy, there is no longer any occupancy restriction. If you do not have sufficient space for this, please maintain a reduced occupancy or staggered schedule for researchers in order to meet this social distancing guideline.
Please continue to ensure that all lab personnel wear face masks or face shields in common areas of research buildings (including hallways, bathrooms, shared spaces, core facilities, and during entry and exit). Lab personnel should also wear face masks or face shields when in the lab if they cannot maintain sufficient social distancing as described above. In light of increasing cases of COVID-19 in our community, please redouble your efforts to ensure that our research spaces remain safe.
It is also still UI policy that any personnel whose tasks allow them to work from home must continue to do so. Please consider working from home when engaged in non-laboratory tasks such as reading, writing, or data analysis if possible.
Yours,
Josh
Joshua A. Weiner, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Research, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Professor, Department of Biology
Associate Director, Iowa Neuroscience Institute
The University of Iowa
