After more than two years of support, DOH COVID Operations at UF come to an end

As of last Friday, UF faculty and staff will no longer login to the ONE.UF system to report an illness or register for an on-campus COVID test. Moving forward, if you are experiencing symptoms, you are encouraged to visit the Florida Department of Health’s COVID-19 Response website for guidance as well as testing and vaccine locations, take an at-home test and, if needed, consult with your primary care physician.

It’s been quite a journey for Jerne Shapiro, M.P.H., who served as lead epidemiologist for DOH COVID Operations at UF — formerly UF Health Screen, Test & Protect — and the countless others who offered their expertise to test, trace and vaccinate the UF community. Shapiro, who won both a UF Superior Accomplishment Award and Champions for Change Award this past spring for her efforts, is emotional as she reflects on her own and other UF responders’ work throughout the pandemic.

“I’ve been incredibly lucky to have served my community alongside so many amazing folks, including my fabulous disease investigators, these past few years,” she said. “This is my home, and I can think of nothing better than to help support health and prevent disease locally.”

Shapiro and fellow UF epidemiologists will continue to work with the Department of Health to monitor COVID trends and to provide guidance to the UF community. As cases have recently risen in Alachua County, this includes following the CDC’s recommendation of wearing masks in public indoor settings and on public transportation. Further details regarding UF’s response may be found in last week’s Campus Brief.

Last month, members of UF’s COVID-19 response team gathered at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium’s Champions Club for a celebration.