COVID-19 Information
Updated Guidelines for Positive Cases and Exposures as of March 30, 2022
Please see the COVID-19 Info for Students and Employees for additional information
On this page:
- COVID-19 Info for Students and Employees (updated 31 May 2022)
- Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
- Campus Updates (updated 22 March 2022)
- Building and Office Hours (updated 6 July 2021)
New and Important Information
- See Chancellor Irwin’s statement on 2022 semesters below, posted December 2, 2021.
- Read our Interim COVID-19 Guidelines for policies and procedures updated August 16, 2021.
- UH Hilo is a proud #OurKuleana Pledge Partner
joining other Hawaiʻi Island organizations in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. As a member of our UH Hilo ‘ohana, please continue to do your part by adhering to campus guidelines.
COVID-19 Info for Students and Employees
Last updated 31 May 2022.
Travel
As the State of Hawaiʻi is currently experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases, we want to do all we can to ensure the health and safety of our campus communities. Please consider the following to help prevent the spread of the virus:
- If you know you have been exposed to the virus, or begin to experience symptoms, please get tested (PCR or at-home antigen test) before returning to campus or UH facility, no matter your vaccination status.
- If returning from personal or university-approved, out-of-state travel, it is strongly recommended that you take a COVID-19 test (PCR or at-home antigen test) within two days of return to the state and BEFORE returning to a UH campus or facility. It is also strongly recommended that a follow up test be taken on day five after your return.
- Everyone is strongly recommended to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination that includes receiving the 1st booster shot, and 2nd booster shot, if eligible.
The 10-campus system will continue to provide recommendations and update guidelines—such as recently reinstituting the indoor mask requirement–-depending on the level of community transmission. The decisions will continue to be based on recommendations by UH medical and public health experts and the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health.
Mahalo for your understanding and cooperation in helping prevent the spread of COVID-19, and doing your part to keep our community healthy.
Updated 26 May 2022.
An announcement from the UH System Office was sent May 24, 2022 reinstating the indoor masking mandate across UH campuses. Face masks will be required in all indoor spaces at UH Hilo, except when working in isolation (e.g. a private office alone). Specifically, face masks will be required in the following indoor spaces:
- Classrooms
- Shared laboratories (teaching and research)Other instructional spaces
- Tightly confined educational spaces (such as advising offices)
- Mookini Library
- Performing Arts Center
- Student Life Center
Campus will be notified on updates to the list of buildings/spaces that require masking.
This measure is being taken as COVID cases are on the rise statewide. The requirement for masking in academic spaces had already been announced on May 17, 2022, to extend through the 2022 summer session. We are working closely with the UH System and other campuses to determine whether the masking requirement will carry forward to the Fall semester. Everyone is also encouraged to monitor their hawaii.edu email and UHNews.org for updates.
If students, employees or invited visitors test positive or are suspected of having COVID-19 based on symptoms, travel history, and/or close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19, they must contact the UH Hilo Campus Security Office at (808) 974-7911 (on campus extension 7911) and their supervisor in the case of employees. UH Hilo Campus Security dispatch is a 24-7 operation, and will be able to relay calls to the UH Hilo COVID-19 Coordinator.
Please continue to follow the UH COVID-19 Guidelines except as described above regarding masking. Mahalo for your assistance in keeping our campus communities safe.
Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds
Please see the UH Hilo report on the The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
For research information about COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, please visit Coronavirus: Research, Commentary, and News.
Campus Updates
Last updated 22 March 2022.
- Food Services:
- Campus Center Dining Room: Reopens Monday August 23. Fall semester hours Monday-Friday, 10:00am-3:30pm
- Deja Brew at the Library Lanai will reopen Monday August 23. Fall semester hours are Monday-Friday, 7:30am-1:30pm.
- Hale Paʻi ʻAi Food Pantry: closed.
- Parking: now in “non-instructional day” status.
- Performing Arts Center: Limited seating available for upcoming shows. Please visit the Performing Arts Center website for information.
- Student Medical Services: is open Monday-Friday from 8am-12pm, and from 1pm-4pm; closed from 12pm-1pm.
- UH WiFi: available in parking zones 2 and 4.
Building and Office Hours
Last updated 6 July 2021.
Nearly all operations have returned to normal business hours, 7:45am-4:30pm Monday-Friday. Refer to office websites for specific hours of operation.