Tufts University to make dorms available to local hospitals and host cities

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Tufts University is offering its empty dorms to provide housing for those one the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 as well as patients and those recovering from the deadly virus.

After the university shut down in-person classes for the duration of the spring semester when the coronavirus outbreak first began in the state, the dorm rooms have sat empty as a necessity for space grows in the response to the virus.

On Monday, Tufts President Anthony Monaco announced the university will be making its residence halls available to house medical personnel, first responders and patients, including those recovering from COVID-19.

The decision comes in response to the continued efforts to help curb the spread of the virus as local hospitals prepare for a surge of cases that threatens to overwhelm their capacity.

Housing at the residence halls will be offered for the following groups:

• Patients, including those who have recovered but need to self-isolate
• Medical personnel, specifically those who are afraid of going home and potentially putting their families at risk
• First responders from Somerville and Medford who cannot return home in fear of spreading the virus into their own homes. This includes first responders who are awaiting test results, have tested positive and need to isolate, and/or have vulnerable family members who belong to high-risk populations.
• University staff members needed on campus who have either been exposed to the virus or prefer to stay on campus so as to not risk infecting family members who have compromised immune systems or other risk factors.

The plan is to segment the campus in different types of populations, providing each group with their needs while keeping everyone safe and healthy.

“As COVID-19 continues to have an impact globally and locally, it is clear that support and action are needed from all corners. Individuals, communities, and institutions can all play a part in mitigating the spread of this pandemic,” said Monaco. “I feel strongly that Tufts and other universities, particularly research universities, have an abundance of resources to offer our community and health-care partners in their fight against this unprecedented and rapidly changing challenge. We have the ability to help with our space, facilities, infrastructure, and partnerships. We need to match our capacities to providers’ needs in order to help relieve the pressure on the healthcare system.”

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said that “one of the biggest challenges we’re trying to tackle at the moment is finding space for the coming patient surge and for housing front line health and emergency workers. We are incredibly fortunate to have a partner like Tufts to step up to help us tackle the enormity of this task. We’re never going to know the exact number of lives this will save, but it’s a number we never want to know. Hopefully what Tufts is doing here becomes a model for college campuses across the state, region, and country.”

To encourage other universities and colleges to do the same, Tufts will share what it has learned while working with the community to make this possible. The findings will be discussed in a webinar on Wednesday, which will be open to colleges, universities, hospitals and government officials from across the country.

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