Residents of John Jay were informed via an email that COVID-19 was detected in the wastewater.

Residents of John Jay were notified that COVID-19 was detected in the wastewater of the John Jay Residence Hall via an email sent by Senior Vice President and Medical Director of Columbia Health Melanie J. Bernitz and Dean of Undergraduate Student Life Cristen Kromm tonight. This comes after COVID-19 was also detected in the wastewater of Broadway Hall and Wien Hall.

As per the email, residents of John Jay should schedule a COVID-19 test for tomorrow, or they risk receiving a Compact violation. If there is no availability, students should continue to check in case of cancellations, or access appointments on the Columbia University Irving Medical Center testing site.  

Finally, residents were reminded to follow Columbia’s requirements regarding testing protocols. Any medical questions or concerns regarding this incident should be directed to Columbia Health.     

The email can be found in its entirety below. 

Email to John Jay Residents from Director Bernitz and Dean Kromm, sent at 6:25 pm on April 22:

Dear Student, 

The presence of Covid-19 has been detected in the wastewater of John Jay Residence Hall through Columbia’s enhanced campus testing program. You should have already scheduled a Covid-19 test for tomorrow, since Friday is John Jay’s assigned testing day. All John Jay residents currently on campus must be tested tomorrow.

• If you have not scheduled a test for tomorrow, please schedule one immediately. If there is no availability in Lerner, keep checking as cancellations may occur and capacity is added where possible. If there is no availability in Lerner, you should access appointments at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) testing site.
• Biweekly testing is still required regardless of vaccination status. 
• If you do not test tomorrow, you will receive a Compact violation. 
• In order to avoid crowds at the testing site, walk-ins and late arrivals are not permitted, so be sure to schedule and arrive on time.

Lastly, it is very important that all students test before leaving their residence halls for the summer. 

ACCOUNTABILITY

We cannot underscore enough the importance of your full compliance with COVID-19 testing. The ability to house students in our residence halls is contingent upon your compliance and that of your classmates, as well as guidance from public health and government officials. When a student chooses not to follow Columbia’s requirements, they jeopardize both the well-being of the community and their own privilege of living on campus.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Please contact Columbia Health directly if you have any medical questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Melanie J. Bernitz

Senior Vice President and Medical Director, Columbia Health

Cristen Kromm

Dean of Undergraduate Student Life

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