COVID Related FAQs for Research Administration and Researchers

During gatherings and events, the goal is to minimize groups of unmasked people before, during and after eating indoors. Rely upon your campus food service provider to help you navigate all your food safety needs.

Key approaches for such gatherings:

• Wear a mask except when you are actively eating or drinking. Masks help protect both you and those around you.
• Shift to outdoors whenever possible for the program and/or dining.
• Limit alcohol consumption. Consuming alcohol may make you less likely to follow COVID-19 safety measures.
• Follow basic personal hygiene and food safety practices.

If indoors:

• Plan for speed of service and limit queuing and contact by providing pre-packaged or served meals.
• Display appropriate signage about masking, as well as message in advance that masking is required when not actively eating or drinking.
• Limit the period of unmasked contact, as well as the amount of time and the number of individuals you are in contact with.
• Plan and limit capacity based upon a determined capacity.
• Use disposables and trash receptacles to allow attendees to quickly and easily depart.

Review the University’s “In-person Meetings, Events and Gatherings” guidance for additional planning and approval information. See additional CDC guidance on eating and large gatherings.

The following provides guidance for employees on eating in the workplace, including in break areas:

Basic guidelines:

• Wear a mask except when you are actively eating or drinking. Masks help protect both you and those around you.
• Limit the period of unmasked contact, as well as the amount of time and the number of other individuals you are in contact with.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated there is no evidence that handling or eating food spreads COVID-19, but it is always important to follow good personal hygiene and basic food safety practices.

Eating in the workplace and break areas:

• To limit unmasked occasions while actively eating or drinking, we recommend that you eat at your desk, outdoors or designated break areas.
• Minimize extended periods of contact with multiple employees eating within the same space or limited seating capacity in break areas by staggering mealtimes.
• Further, practice good personal hygiene by washing your hands before and after eating, as well as cleaning and sanitizing your food preparation surfaces and high-touch areas before and after.

Review the University’s “Working on Campus” guidance and Human Resources “Back to State” guidance for additional information. See additional CDC guidance on eating and small gatherings.

Vaccinations are not required, but are highly recommended for your safety and the safety of others.

At this time, all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status, are required to wear face masks while inside buildings on Penn State campuses. This applies to classrooms, meeting spaces and other shared public indoor areas.

As a healthcare-related facility, the College of Medicine has developed guidelines specific for the Hershey campus. Please see the College of Medicine COVID-19 page for updates. At this time, masks and social distancing are still required for those performing research in laboratories and for those conducting in-person human subjects research at the College of Medicine.

As announced Aug. 4, in response to accelerating COVID-19 case counts across the state and in consultation with University Faculty Senate leadership, Penn State will require all students, faculty, staff and visitors — including those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated — to wear masks indoors at all campuses. This requirement is effective immediately.

No.  In alignment with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, if an individual is not vaccinated, they are permitted in research spaces as all others are, provided they are masked. 

No.  In alignment with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, if an individual is not vaccinated, they are permitted in research spaces as all others are, provided they are masked. 

  In accordance with CDC guidance, all individuals must wear a face mask while using public transportation. 

Vaccinated employees with individual walled offices are not required to wear a mask in their personal office. Others who are unvaccinated must wear a mask indoors at all times.

The CDC continues to recommend avoiding large events and gatherings. Currently, the CDC does not provide numbers to define small and large events. The updated event and gatherings guidance emphasizes that organizers must follow existing COVID-19 safety procedures as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the University’s COVID-19 website and Penn State’s Return to Work website.