The Marine Biological Laboratory is resuming our on-campus programs with continued diligence and renewed purpose. Our goal is to prioritize the health of the MBL and local communities while sustaining our distinctive approach to education, research, and collaboration. In close consultation with experts at the University of Chicago and UChicago Medicine, we’re implementing a wide range of health precautions while building a campus culture focused on shared responsibility for health and safety.
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Latest Updates
May 11 – Updated Guidance: Masks Recommended Indoors
Dear Colleagues, Due to an increased number of COVID-19 cases on the MBL campus and Barnstable County’s COVID-19 Community Level increasing to “high” transmission within the last few days, the MBL is recommending that individuals wear a mask in indoor campus settings...
May 3: COVID-19 Update: Reminders for the Season Ahead
Dear Colleagues, Memorial Day may be a few weeks away, but the unofficial start to a MBL summer of science began last week with the kick off of our first two Advanced Research Training Courses (ARTCs) of the season—Analytical and Quantitative Light Microscopy and...
March 7: Changes to Campus Masking
Dear Colleagues, Effective Monday, March 14, masks will be optional for staff in all MBL campus spaces including research laboratories, office settings, dormitories, and dining spaces. Masks will continue to be required in instructional settings (e.g., classrooms,...
February 7 – Mask Update
Dear Colleagues – Given the declining COVID-19 case rate in Barnstable County, effective today a speaker may pull down their mask temporarily while actively speaking or presenting in order to be heard or understood, and should return their mask to its position over...
January 10 – COVID-19 Booster Requirement
Dear Colleagues – As outlined in the update on the Omicron variant message sent last week, the MBL now requires that all employees receive a COVID-19 booster shot in addition to their original single or two-dose vaccination. Employees who have already received their...
January 3 – Update on Omicron Variant
Dear Colleagues – As we enter a new year, we are faced with a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued challenge to protect our employees and local community from the rapidly spreading Omicron variant. We are experiencing a record number of Omicron cases...
December 6 – COVID-19 Update
Dear Colleagues, I write today with an update on COVID-19 issues as they may relate to MBL operations. As you may know, Barnstable County is experiencing a significant increase in cases driven by the Delta variant. Along with the high case count and higher positive...
November 19: Important Information About Vaccine Requirements for MBL Employees
Dear Colleagues –To date, the MBL has successfully run our research and training programs without an on-campus transmission of COVID-19 and that is thanks to the efforts of all of you, our dedicated staff. We have implemented policies and procedures as needed to...
October 19: COVID-19 Update on Wearing Masks Indoors + Public Access to Events
Dear Colleagues, I write today with an update on two items: masking indoors and public access to MBL events. Masking The MBL continues to follow CDC guidance around masking indoors. By way of reminder, this guidance states that even fully vaccinated individuals should...
October 1: Message from MBL Director Nipam Patel
Dear Friends, When the MBL started planning for spring and summer 2021 programs nearly a year ago, we knew there were a significant number of challenges to overcome if we were to bring students and scientists together in a productive and safe way. Through the...
September 17 – Information on Mandatory and Voluntary Testing for Staff
Dear Colleagues, The Mandatory Asymptomatic Testing Program which is required for unvaccinated employees begins next Wednesday, September 22. In addition, the MBL is also making weekly asymptomatic testing available to fully vaccinated individuals as part of...
September 13 – Access for Children in MBL Buildings + Extending Dependent Care Grants
Dear Colleagues, As the new school year kicks off and in-person classrooms come back to life, it is not without the continued anxieties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Knowing that the difficulties that many caregivers faced last year may still persist, the MBL is...
August 25 – COVID-19 Update + Fall Programming
Dear Colleagues – More than 10 months ago when we launched the planning process for 2021 programs, we knew there were a significant number of challenges to overcome. With everyone’s continued vigilance and compliance with public health precautions, together, as a...
August 4: Delta Variant and the Importance of Wearing Masks Indoors
Dear Colleagues, According to CDC estimates, the coronavirus Delta variant, believed to be the most transmissible variant yet, has caused more than 75% of recent COVID-19 cases in the United States. On Tuesday, July 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
July 22: Vaccination Requirement for Employees
From: Nipam Patel, Director and Paul Speer, Chief Operating Officer Since June, the MBL has been steadily lifting COVID-19 restrictions and mitigation measures. Continuing this process, today we are announcing that the MBL expects every employee to get fully...