COVID-19 Update - Sept. 28
JMU News
Dear JMU Family,
Update on Cases
Over the weekend, the university observed 10 new positive cases of COVID-19 at the Health Center as well as 7 self-reported cases, with 44 becoming considered “recovered,” meaning they were diagnosed as positive more than 10 days ago and are no longer infectious. This puts the number of active cases at 65. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds remained at 113 out of 143. More information can be found on the university’s Stop the Spread dashboard. While our situation continues to improve, individuals must continue to follow public health guidance by wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and washing hands frequently.
October Return Plan
On Friday, the university released further details on its plan to return to in-person learning beginning Oct. 5. While the plan includes extensive operational enhancements, including surveillance testing, additional quarantine and isolation space, changes in dining hall arrangements and other measures to increase safety, we cannot emphasize enough how critically important it will be for everyone to follow public health guidance on masks, hand washing and physical distancing. All students are still under the obligations of the Stop the Spread Agreement, and violations of that agreement will not be tolerated. In fact, the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (OSARP) is currently reviewing 306 cases ranging from simple compliance concerns to hosting large events to determine sanctions to which those students may be subject. OSARP is also investigating incidents involving student organizations. We can do this, Dukes, but only if each of us sincerely commits to doing our part.
Stop the Spread HELPline
If students and their families have questions and can’t readily find the answer in our FAQs, call the Stop the Spread HELPline, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The toll-free number is 888-886-3131. And don’t forget, many of your questions can be answered here. Call center agents also will be answering questions sent to covid19@jmu.edu, and you can submit questions via a form on the Stop the Spread site.
Stay safe, and please remember that the only vaccine currently available for COVID-19 is solidarity. And download the COVIDWISE app!
