A weekly update from Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley with community health information, important resources and announcements of any changes to protocols.
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
This is the last weekly community health update for the Fall 2022 semester. Key health information in this week’s update includes:
- Changes to expect in the new year
- Asymptomatic testing schedule during Exam Week
- Community health status update
Changes to expect in the new year
The number of reported cases of COVID-19 continues to decline significantly – both on campus and in the region. While we will continue to be watchful for any increase in the presence of the virus in our community, we are planning some changes to university practices:
- Elon’s COVID-19 dashboard will be discontinued at the end of Fall semester. In its place, the Campus Health Status and Alerts page of the HealthEU website will include regular updates from Student Health Services (when classes are in session) about illnesses of concern in the university community.
- The asymptomatic testing location in McCoy Commons 212 (Oaks Neighborhood) will continue operations through Tuesday, January 31, and will be discontinued after that time. Diagnostic testing for those with symptoms will continue to be available at Student Health Services and the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic. Individuals interested in asymptomatic at-home testing after January 31 are encouraged to purchase at-home antigen tests at local pharmacies or at Fountain Market in Clohan Hall (which may be reimbursable by insurance plans) or utilize off-campus testing resources available from the NC Department of Health & Human Services COVID-19 test locator page.
- The university continues to strongly encourage COVID-19 vaccination and boosters for all students, faculty, and staff. New incoming students will be required to include the initial COVID-19 vaccine series and any boosters when uploading their vaccination documentation prior to enrollment, or request a medical or religious exemption.
- A community health message will be distributed via email at the beginning of each semester, but weekly messages will be discontinued. Instead, periodic updates from the Vice President for Student Life or the Infectious Disease Response Team will be sent as information and notices to the community are warranted.
The university COVID-19 website will continue to be updated as an important source of information.
Asymptomatic testing schedule during Exam Week
Asymptomatic testing will be available in McCoy Commons, 212 (Oaks Neighborhood) on the regular weekly schedule through all of Exam Week:
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. – noon
Visit the Campus Health Status and Alerts website for other COVID-19 testing options.
Community health status update – no email update next week
Each Tuesday afternoon by 4 p.m., the university COVID-19 webpage is updated with information about the status of COVID-19 in our community. The site also includes a link to the latest information about the CDC COVID-19 community levels, which are currently at Low in Alamance and Guilford counties. This dashboard will no longer be updated after December 20.
There will be no weekly Community Health Update email next week. Our next message will be Wednesday, Jan. 4, by 10:45 a.m.
Best wishes for a successful end to the semester and for a healthy, safe, and relaxing Winter Break!
—
Jon Dooley, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life
