COVID-19 Updates at Wake Forest

Wake Forest continues to adapt to changes in COVID-19 guidance and conditions. Here are the latest updates:

Gate access

  • Beginning Saturday, May 1, University gate access — including the Polo Road gate — will return to normal operations. All gates will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and card access will not be required during those hours.
  • After May 1, students will not need to use the Family Access form unless the visit falls outside those hours. Guidelines for faculty- and staff-sponsored guests will be forthcoming.

Visitor guidelines

  • All visitors will be reminded by signage at the gates that masks are required and social distancing must be maintained. We encourage families to remain outdoors during their visits for the continued safety of our community.
  • Beginning May 1, the University will start opening some public-facing buildings for visitors. These buildings will be subject to capacity restrictions, and individuals in the buildings must comply with social distancing and mask requirements. Details about building openings will be shared at a later date.
  • Families and other visitors, regardless of vaccination status, still will not be permitted in any other buildings on campus, including residence halls and most academic buildings.
    • An exception will be made to permit residential students to have two helpers assist with their move-out from our residential communities. Details for our move-out process can be found at go.wfu.edu/moveout.
  • Families and other visitors will be allowed to participate in outdoor activities that have event plans approved by the University, and NCAA events.

Pre-graduation academic events

  • Wake Forest must continue to follow public health guidelines and the N.C. executive order, which require social distancing, limits on building capacities and gathering sizes, and the ability to abide by other event-related rules. In many cases, this means space constraints will not allow additional people in buildings. For these reasons, Wake Forest must continue to take a prudent approach for the protection of the health and wellbeing of our campus community.
  • End-of-year and pre-graduation events (e.g., recitals, presentations, ceremonies, performances, symposia, etc.) must adhere to University event and gathering protocols, which require an approved safety plan. Additional guidance will be provided to faculty next week.

Changes to the campus testing program

  • Over the last seven weeks, we have administered more than 15,000 COVID tests among asymptomatic students, with only 11 of those tests being positive. As a result of this sustained low positivity rate, public health experts have advised that we can resume our approach of randomly testing a sample of our students.
  • As a result, beginning next week, Wake Forest will test a stratified random sampling of about 1,500 undergraduates a week.
  • Testing remains available for graduate and professional students on a voluntary basis.
  • Testing remains an important part of our COVID-19 mitigation strategy, and student participation is key.

Vaccination update

  • The Forsyth County Department of Public Health has appointments available on Saturday, April 17, and Monday, April 19, for first-dose Pfizer vaccines at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. This includes the availability of walk-up appointments. Schedule your appointment here.
  • Wake Forest continues to encourage students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated. Information about vaccines and opportunities to receive one is available on Our Way Forward.
  • Understanding the community’s vaccination status is important for Wake Forest’s planning. Students should upload their vaccination documentation to the Student Health Portal (please be sure the date of each vaccination is clearly visible on your card) as soon as possible. Faculty and staff should log vaccinations in the SneezSafe daily wellness screening survey.

Questions

Submit questions through our online form, or call our Call Center (336.758.7500) weekdays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT.

As we continue to navigate the pandemic and the evolving public health guidance, policies and guidelines may change. The health and wellbeing of our campus community remain a top priority.

— Communications and External Relations

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