COVID-19 Updates for 2022-23
Duke Law School and Duke University have taken extraordinary steps to protect students, faculty, and staff since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This page contains important updates about health and safety protocols in effect on campus as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
Vaccination Requirements
- Students are required to complete a World Health Organization-approved COVID vaccine series prior to participation in on-campus activities. Duke also recommends students receive a booster dose when eligible per CDC guidelines.
- If you received the COVID-19 vaccine outside of the Duke student vaccination clinic (e.g. pharmacy, health department, other institution), please submit your completed vaccination card to Student Health so your records can be updated accordingly.
Masking
- Duke University’s approach to masking in classrooms will be tied to the CDC community level category. Currently, Durham County remains at the “high” level of community risk, so masking will continue to be required in classrooms. If and when the community risk has been reduced to medium or low for two consecutive weeks, masking will no longer be required in classrooms. Masking will continue to be encouraged in classrooms for anyone who is concerned or is at high-risk for severe disease.
- Masks will continue to be required on Duke buses and vans and in all clinical settings, regardless of the CDC community level.
- Individuals who are unvaccinated are still required to wear a mask in all indoor settings.
- Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should wear a mask, not report to work or attend classes, and get tested as soon as possible. Anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms, even after a negative COVID test, should remember there are many respiratory viruses circulating in our community. Please be considerate to others and wear a mask whenever you have any cold-like symptoms.
- Masks may still be required in other locations based on specific circumstances, so student, employees and visitors should carry a mask and be prepared to wear it, if needed. Masking is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others, especially in indoor settings. Please continue to respect an individual’s decision to wear a mask even if it is not required.
Testing
- Students are required to get a negative PCR test before arriving on campus, preferably within 72 hours of arrival. Tests are not required to be submitted to Duke, but participation is considered as part of the Duke Community Standard.
- Anyone who tests positive should contact Student Health and delay their arrival until cleared by Student Health.
- Duke will continue to offer limited surveillance testing at four locations during the fall semester. Testing is optional for all students, faculty, and staff. For more information about surveillance testing, visit the Coronavirus Response website.
Isolation Management
- Students, faculty, and staff who test positive will be required to wear a well-fitted mask and isolate for a minimum of five days before returning to work or class and will need to continue to wear a mask for another five days.
Testing is available for students, faculty, and staff from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations:
West Campus
- Washington Duke Inn, Varsity Golf Center. (See map for location)
- Levine Science Research Center: Lobby 100
- Bryan Center: Conference Room 109 (beginning Aug. 22)
East Campus
- Friedl Building: Main lobby
- COVID-positive students may be directed to self-isolate according to the following university protocols:
- Vaccinated individuals who are asymptomatic (i.e. no symptoms) can end isolation five days after testing positive once cleared by Student Health and must then wear a well-fitting mask for the next five days when around others.
- Symptomatic and all unvaccinated individuals must continue to isolate for 10 days to protect others who could become infected and must be cleared by Student Health to end isolation.
- During the isolation period, students are not permitted to attend classes in person nor utilize campus facilities or in-person resources. Compliance with Student Health directives is required.
- Notify your professors that you will be missing class for the designated length of your isolation period. If you would like assistance contacting your professors, please email the Student Affairs Office. Faculty may provide access to class recordings, and students should ask individual faculty about potential access when notifying them of the required absence.
- If your positive test is from a medical provider outside of the university, you will need to submit your positive test result to Student Health by sending a copy of your lab results to dshcheckin@duke.edu.
If you have been in close contact someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, contact Student Health at 919-681-9355 for additional guidance. Student Health may advise you to be tested.
If you are concerned about non-compliance or behaviors of another member of the community (including students, faculty, and staff) that jeopardize health and safety and are not comfortable engaging that person directly, please e-mail Dean Hoye and/or Dean Gustafson. If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can also contact Duke’s anonymous hotline at (800) 826-8109 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), or the Duke Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance.