COVID-19

Dear Colleague:

Please refer to the following communications and resources for information regarding the process of documenting your COVID vaccination status. 

Communications

1.6.2022: Faculty and Staff COVID Vaccination Status Verification Using Vault Health Vaccination Tracking System

Key Takeaways

• The IRS has issued Notice 2021-15, clarifying sections of the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 
• This Act allows employers to relax certain requirements for making mid-year changes to benefit elections in plans like Lehigh’s, which are known as “Section 125 cafeteria plans.”
• Lehigh has opted in to these relaxations which are in the best interest for our faculty, staff and their families. As a result, employees may make certain changes to their medical benefit plans this year without a Qualifying Life Event. 

The IRS recently issued Notice 2021-15 in an effort to clarify the application of Section 214 of the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, recently enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act. This notice also relaxes some of the requirements pertaining to benefits plans such as Lehigh’s which are known as Section 125 cafeteria plans, specifically with regard to making mid-year changes to benefit elections.

Key Takeaways

The following email was sent to Lehigh employees who participate in the University's medical insurance plans on December 1, 2020

Dear Colleague:

As a participant in Lehigh's medical benefit plans, you are eligible for a temporary waiver of fees for Capital BlueCross Virtual Care. Please see the message below from Capital BlueCross for more details.

Dear Colleagues:

As of this week, Lehigh has entered its Open IV phase. By now, supervisors, department chairs and/or Deans should have completed and submitted a safety management plan for their area of the university. These plans should include any necessary physical modifications to work spaces as well as staffing strategies to ensure good service while maintaining social distancing and reduced density. 

In specific circumstances where 6’ social distancing cannot be maintained, owing to the requirements of an activity or restraints in a space, Lehigh may require the use of plastic face shields for supplemental personal protection.

This guidance does not replace the requirement for face coverings in all spaces on campus, and cloth face coverings or masks will still be required in conjunction with the face shield.