An update from Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley with community health information, important resources and announcements of any changes to protocols for the spring semester.
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Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
This message is the community health update to start the semester. The Infectious Disease Response Team recently met to review the campus and community data related to COVID-19. Local health data experts indicate that cases of COVID-19, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), seasonal flu, and common colds are all currently declining in our area. No changes are planned to the spring semester protocols described in our November 30 and January 4 Community Health Updates. Please review those messages for important information.
The university COVID-19 website remains the best source of updated campus information and contains the current university protocols for testing, reporting positive cases, and support resources for those testing positive and their close contacts.
As a reminder, asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in the Oaks McCoy Commons has been discontinued. Members of the campus community are encouraged to obtain individual at-home antigen tests for personal use. Four tests can be obtained free of charge from the CDC COVID-19 test website, and may also be purchased at local pharmacies or at Fountain Market in Clohan Hall. The expenses for at-home tests may be reimbursable by insurance plans.
For those with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses, diagnostic testing will continue to be available at Student Health Services and the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic. Students, faculty and staff who are ill and schedule an appointment will be seen and evaluated by a medical provider.
Even as respiratory illnesses are declining in our area, it remains important to know the similarities and differences between flu and a cold, flu and COVID-19, and the symptoms of RSV. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, wear a mask in public and consult with a healthcare provider, including TimelyCare (available 24/7 to students), Student Health Services, or the Faculty/Staff Health & Wellness Clinic.
Note that there are no scheduled weekly Community Health Updates this semester. We will send information to the community when there are important updates or changes to our community health status or university protocols for responding to COVID-19.
Best wishes for a healthy and successful spring semester!
—
Jon Dooley, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Life
