NRAO Coronavirus COVID-19 Response Information
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Updated COVID Policy
As a follow up to the recent COVID announcement made by the Director on March 27th, a revised COVID policy has been created.
In addition to the updated policy, there will be no change in medical plan coverage as it relates to COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and over the counter (OTC) tests. In summary, the plan will continue to cover the following:
- COVID-19 vaccines at 100%, for both In and Out of Network providers and labs
- COVID-19 testing at 100%, for both In and Out of Network providers and labs
- 8 OTC COVID-19 tests per month – available to purchase directly through local pharmacy with no reimbursement process required
Please contact your local ES&S representative or Jody Bolyard for questions specific to the updated policy; or contact your local HR representative for benefits specific questions.
COVID-19 Changes | 27 March 2023
Over the past three years the Observatories have implemented specific policies and procedures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, including specific workplace practices, recruiting requirements, travel restrictions, and sick time/leave guidelines. Currently, the U.S. government plans to allow the existing COVID public health emergency to expire on May 11th, representing an informal end to the pandemic. It is time for NRAO/GBO to stand down on all remaining restrictions we have in place, including:
- elimination of all COVID-related vaccination requirements for staff, visitors and contractors;
- removal of vaccination requirements for recruiting advertisements, and new staff;
- we will halt the weekly masking assessment, and remove masking requirements;
- Observatory accommodated staff (this category was defined during the pandemic period) will halt weekly testing, and people are free to continue whatever level of masking/isolation they are comfortable with. Test kits and masks will no longer be provided.
- Please note, teleworking arrangements are unaffected by these changes.
These changes are effective immediately. An updated version of the Infectious Disease Policy with more details will be distributed later this week, including some minor items of COVID policy based on CDC recommendations (e.g. employee isolation and/or masking after a positive test or suspected workplace exposure, international travel issues). Unrolling all COVID changes/impacts will take some time, and your patience is appreciated.
At this point, most people in the Observatories have had COVID, or have seen the disease up close in a family member, co-worker etc. In this next (endemic) phase, COVID outbreaks will continue to occur in private/professional life (e.g., we had an outbreak at GBO recently). Supervisors may in the future modify staffing/work activities in their area on short notice to try and minimize spread of this highly-transmissible disease (more information on these options will be available in coming days). We will see how workplace spread goes over the next year, and revise policy/practices accordingly, in line with CDC recommendations and the best science.
COVID-19 is not something we simply passed on our journey, and are now leaving behind us… it is still here, and has changed us forever in complex ways. I strongly encourage everyone to stay current on your boosters, and continue personal safe practices. With incredible support from NSF and AUI, and heroic efforts from all of you, the Observatories stayed online during the worst times, and we got the job done. As a team, we have succeeded, and I am incredibly grateful that we all got through safely, although some sadly lost family members and friends.
Please contact ESS, your supervisor, department head or me if you have further questions.
COVID Risk Levels by County
You can check the CDC's COVID-19 by County website to check for any local updates.
Data Last Updated: Friday, 10 March 2023
Arrows indicate an increase (↑) or decrease (↓) in risk level from the previous week. If no arrow is present, there has been no change.
| SITE | COUNTY, STATE | LEVEL |
|---|---|---|
| AUI | District of Columbia | LOW |
| AUI: Dun Loring | Fairfax County, VA | LOW |
| Edgemont Road + CDL | Albemarle County, VA | LOW |
| DSOC + VLA | Socorro County, NM | LOW |
| GBO | Pocahontas County, WV | LOW |
| NAO | Bernalillo County, NM | LOW |
| VLBA: Brewster | Okanogan County, WA | LOW |
| VLBA: Fort Davis | Jeff Davis County, TX | LOW |
| VLBA: Hancock | Hillsborough County, NH | LOW |
| VLBA: Kitt Peak | Pima County, AZ | LOW |
| VLBA: Los Alamos | Los Alamos County, NM | LOW |
| VLBA: Mauna Kea | Hawaii County, HI | LOW |
| VLBA: North Liberty | Johnson County, IA | LOW |
| VLBA: Owens Valley | Inyo County, CA | LOW |
| VLBA: Pie Town | Catron County, NM | LOW |
| VLBA: St. Croix | St. Croix County, VI | LOW |
CDC Masking Guidelines & Notes:
| High Risk | Mask use required indoors. Use existing protocols for testing. |
| Medium Risk | No masking required, talk to your healthcare provider if you are at risk. Mask use appreciated. |
| Low Risk | No masking required. |
| Notes | No active notes. |
