Updates to Covid-19 Response Efforts at the NIH
President Biden signed legislation ending the COVID-19 National Emergency on April 10 and the Public Health Emergency Declaration is scheduled to expire on May 11, 2023. While the NIH awaits further guidance from the Safer Federal Workforce Taskforce and HHS as to what happens next, we will continue to report community levels. The NIH COVID-19 Safety Plan continues as appropriate guidance for staff, but we are changing some existing response efforts.
COVID-19 Testing
The symptomatic testing program (car line testing in the MLP-7 garage) was discontinued on April 13. Occupational Medical Service (OMS) will continue to evaluate the need for testing on a case-by-case basis, with priority given to those working in direct patient care. The Clinical Center is scheduled to discontinue symptomatic (at will) testing on June 1. For more information, visit to the NIH COVID-19 Safety Plan.
Vaccines
If a COVID-19 booster vaccine becomes available this fall, it will likely not be offered at NIH but should be widely available in the community. Please follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 website for further guidance. OMS will remain involved with planning and offering seasonal influenza vaccinations.
Conferences
Effective May 15, 2023, approvals are no longer needed for large meetings (50+) regardless of community level. Small and medium-sized meetings have not required approval for a while. For public events in general, the NIH is experiencing a major uptick in the need for conference space, so please remember to book your meetings, conferences, symposiums, etc. well in advance. Although approvals are no longer needed, we still ask you to hold meetings safely by following the guidance in the NIH COVID-19 Safety Plan.
Cafeterias and Dining Areas
As more people have returned to the physical workplace, we have increased the dining and other food service locations and options and expanded seating as appropriate. Dining area spacing restrictions have also been rescinded.
- Building 10/B1: Monday – Friday; 7AM – 2PM (closed 9AM-11AM) – limited seating but plans are in the works to expand
- Building 10/CRC Coffee Bar: Monday – Friday; 6:30AM – 7:30 PM; Weekends/Holidays – 8AM – 6PM
- Building 10/FAES Coffee Bar: Monday – Friday; 7AM – 4PM
- Building 10 Concession Stand: Monday – Friday; 6:30AM – 5PM
- Building 12B: Monday – Friday; 6:30AM – 3PM – full seating
- Building 31: Monday – Friday; 7AM – 2PM (closed 10AM-11AM) – full seating
- Building 35 Monday – Friday; 7AM – 2:30PM (closed 9AM-10AM) – full seating
- Building 35 Concession Stand: Monday – Friday; 8AM – 4PM
- Building 50 Coffee Bar: Monday – Friday; 6:30AM – 4PM
- Lot 10H Food Trucks: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday; 11AM – 2PM
As we continue to monitor the trends of staff coming back to work and the increase of in-person meetings, we will continue to increase options as appropriate.
Outdated Signage
We recognize there is outdated COVID-19 signage in many buildings on the main NIH campus, satellite locations and leased facilities. As we move into this next normal, we are asking each ICO to remove any COVID-19 posters or signs that remain in your spaces, hallways, elevators, stairwells, bathrooms and any other public spaces that housekeeping might miss. These signs would include the masking signs, distancing posters, elevator markers, bathroom guidance, etc. This would include every building except for Building 10 at this time. Further information will come at a later date for Building 10.
Please dispose of signage either in the trash or recycling as appropriate. We are working with the Office of Research Facilities (ORF) housekeeping and waste management to assist with removing any remaining signage and, when possible, ensure signage makes it to a recycling bin.
The Office of Research Services, Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) and OMS continue to be available to answer any questions you may have. Please contact your DOHS Safety Specialist or email DOHS_COVID19@mail.nih.gov with any inquiries or concerns.