In a message Friday, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley shared information about the change in gathering limits made by the Town of Elon on March 26.
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Effective at 5 p.m. today, Friday, March 26, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has eased a number of statewide restrictions on certain businesses and gatherings. Additional information about the governor’s announcement is on the state website here. University officials have carefully reviewed the information and updates to campus operations and services are listed below.
Even as some restrictions are gradually easing and more individuals are becoming eligible to receive the vaccine, public health officials remain concerned about transmission of the virus, especially with the emergence of variants that appear to be more contagious and a recent upward trend in the daily number of new infections. The statewide requirement for face coverings continues, and it mirrors Elon University’s expectations for face coverings.
Here are some important facts about the current state and local rules and adjustments in policies for university facilities and operations:
Gathering limits easing in the Town of Elon
Regarding gatherings at homes and private residences, the Town of Elon has announced a gradual easing of the gathering size limits from the emergency declaration in place since last spring. Although the numbers are not identical to the statewide gathering limits in the Governor’s executive order, gatherings at residences in the Town of Elon will now be raised to a limit of no more than 25 persons indoors or in confined spaces and 50 persons outdoors. The new information can be found on the Town of Elon website here. Even as the gathering sizes in the town have increased, face coverings and physical distancing remain important, no matter how many people from outside your household/apartment are gathered.
The university continues to support the Town of Elon efforts to enforce the town gathering size limits, consistent with our Healthy Elon Commitment and expectations for shared responsibility and accountability.
Changes for on-campus facilities and operations
In light of the Governor’s Order, local and state health conditions, and Town of Elon gathering limits, the following changes are also planned for campus facilities and operations:
- Residence Life has raised the gathering size limitations in on-campus residence halls and apartments. The new capacity limits will be effective today, March 26, and can be found online here. Face coverings and physical distancing remain important – even when gathering with a small number of friends.
- Campus Recreation and Wellness will begin to gradually increase the number of available slots for fitness appointments when the system becomes available each Thursday. Additional information about capacities and reservations can be found online here.
- Elon Dining is evaluating the number of available tables and eating locations in campus dining locations to determine their ability to increase capacity gradually in the coming weeks.
Even as these gathering restrictions are gradually eased, we need to remain cautious and vigilant. We appreciate the efforts of all members of the university community to continue to make smart individual decisions that reduce the transmission of the virus.
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Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life