Dr. Ramirez reminder to faculty and staff: Protect Purdue over the holidays

December 14, 2020

Dear Purdue faculty and staff,  

As we head into the holiday season and Purdue’s winter recess, we have much to be thankful for, including a fall semester completed under extraordinary circumstances. We also continue to have a critical responsibility to protect ourselves, to protect others and to protect Purdue. 

Employee cases, as a percentage of total cases, have been increasing over the last two months as cases of COVID-19 surge in Indiana and around the country. I want to remind you that all Boilermakers, including faculty and staff, are expected to continue to follow the Protect Purdue Pledge and the University COVID-19 travel policy while away from campus, including masking, social distancing and monitoring daily for symptoms.

The holidays are traditionally a time for activities that run counter to the Pledge, and I join my colleagues in public health in asking you to please consider avoiding situations that raise your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19, such as gathering with people from outside your immediate household without masks or social distancing, especially if you are not feeling well. I know this is a lot to ask, and I know it isn’t easy. I also know that you, our Boilermaker faculty and staff, have an extraordinary capacity to do hard things, as evidenced over the past nine months. 

Should you need us, the Protect Purdue Health Center will continue to be available 24/7 by phone throughout winter break, and COVID-19 testing is available on campus for faculty, staff and household family members, regardless of whether or not you are experiencing symptoms. If you have engaged in any activity that raises the risk of contracting COVID-19, please get tested.  

Testing hours over the winter break period will be:

  • Now-Dec. 22: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday
  • Dec. 23-25: CLOSED
  • Dec. 26: 8 a.m.-noon
  • Dec. 27: 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
  • Dec. 28: CLOSED
  • Dec. 29-31: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. (on-call 11 a.m.-4 p.m.)
  • Jan. 1: CLOSED
  • Jan. 2: Regular hours resume; 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.-noon Saturday and Sunday

If you have questions, I encourage you to visit protect.purdue.edu or call the Purdue COVID-19 Information Center at 765-496-INFO (4636) or toll free at 1-833-571-1043. 

I thank you for your efforts so far and encourage you to stay the course and continue safe behaviors. To protect those who matter most, we keep going. 

Sincerely, 

Esteban Ramirez

Chief Medical Officer

Protect Purdue Health Center