Keep HKS Healthy

Harvard Kennedy School’s COVID-19 protocols are based on Harvard University’s policies. Please visit the HUHS COVID-19 Information Page  for more details. Protocols specific to the HKS community—including degree program students, executive education students, faculty, staff, and fellows—are shown on this page.    

Harvard Kennedy School COVID-19 Protocols

Effective December 22, 2022

• Consistent with Harvard University’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, all students must be up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations including the bivalent Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster. For Harvard-paid employees, primary series vaccinations are required and Harvard highly recommends that employees keep up to date with COVID vaccinations per CDC guidance. Executive Education participants must attest prior to their program that they are fully vaccinated, and it is strongly recommended that they be up to date on boosters, per CDC guidance.
• Anyone testing positive for COVID-19 or identified as a close contact must follow University guidance. Effective Thursday, December 22, HUHS will retire the use of the Contact Tracing Team and Crimson Clear application. HKS students should notify their faculty and employees should notify their managers so appropriate arrangements can be made while in isolation.
• Anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should take a test (via either PCR or rapid antigen) and not come to campus while awaiting test results.
• While masks are not required, they are always welcome, and the use of masks is encouraged during periods of heightened COVID-19 prevalence locally. Faculty members can require students to wear masks in classes so that the faculty can teach without masks while still being protected.
• If you are traveling, you may refer to Harvard’s Travel Guidance webpage or consult the CDC’s Travel webpage.
• During regular weekdays, the HKS campus is accessible through all entrances by HUID card swipe. On weekends and holidays, the HKS campus is accessible through limited entrances by HUID card swipe. Please see details listed in the HKS Campus and Building Access section below.
• Visitors with a school-related purpose are welcome on campus if they are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and have not been identified as a close contact. Visitors do not need to attest to their vaccination status, but anyone inviting a visitor should inform them of Harvard’s COVID protocols including the guidance that they be up to date on vaccinations as recommended by the CDC.  Visitors who do not have a specific host (which include alumni, prospective students or employees, and those coming for library access or events) may enter via the Wexner security desk.