Dear Temple students,

As the Thanksgiving break is fast approaching, we wanted to provide information about remaining healthy and protecting yourselves and your families during the holiday. Following these recommendations will allow those of you planning to leave campus and Philadelphia to do so safely.

We encourage everyone to test prior to getting together for Thanksgiving and prior to returning to campus. The most effective way to do this is by taking a test both two days prior to and again the morning of your gathering. Please upload positive results to the patient health portal. You do not need to upload negative results.

Temple University, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, is making COVID-19 antigen tests available for you to pick up prior to the fall break. COVID-19 antigen tests can be picked up at the following locations.

• Howard Gittis Student Center
• Charles Library
• TECH Center
• Student Health symptomatic COVID-19 testing clinic on Cecil B. Moore Ave. (next to Insomnia Cookies)
• Student Health office 1700 N. Broad St., 4th Floor

If you will come in contact with anyone who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19 over fall break, we encourage you to wear a mask when in public beforehand. Wearing a mask for one week is good, 10 days is better and two weeks is best. This will help prevent you from becoming ill prior to getting together with others.

The best way to prevent yourself and your loved ones from contracting COVID-19 is being up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 boosters are available at many locations. While that lowers the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, we still recommend that you continue to practice important health precautions such as frequently washing your hands and monitoring your health. 

We hope you all have a healthy fall break and a successful end to your fall semester. 

Sincerely,

Mark Denys
Senior Director, Health Services