JMU Health Update - Nov. 19

News
 

Dear JMU Family,

Upcoming testing opportunities

  • TODAY, Nov. 19, from 2 to 6 p.m. at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington (about one hour from JMU). This is open to all students, faculty, staff and the community. You must preregister. To view the testing site, complete the Start Assessment on this Site. You will have the option to change your zip code. Use 24450 to see this site. Please print your voucher and bring it with you. While this is a longer drive, you can expect to get results over the weekend.
  • FRIDAY, Nov. 20, from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Hillandale Park (about 5 minutes from JMU). Open to all students, faculty, staff and the community. There is a limited number of tests. If you are asymptomatic, it is first-come, first-served. If you are symptomatic, you can register by calling the Health Department at 540-574-5102. Results should be available by Tuesday, Nov. 24.
  • MONDAY, Nov. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds (about 10 minutes from JMU). Open to all students, faculty, staff and the community. It is recommended that you preregister, but you may be able to register on-site if appointments are still available.

Remember that testing is only accurate for the time that it is administered, and results are usually returned in 2 to 5 days. Consider getting tested a week after returning home to help identify any exposure or illness you may have picked up while traveling. Minimize interactions with others by spending short periods of time with smaller groups of people, outside if possible, and avoiding long, indoor gatherings. These recommendations are important all of the time, but ESPECIALLY if you will be seeing older relatives or family members with underlying medical conditions.

Looking for more testing?
Use this link to find a testing site near you. Not from Virginia? Look up your state’s Health Department page.

Self-reporting next week
If you are staying on campus over Thanksgiving break and receive a positive COVID-19 test between Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 29, please contact the JMU Public Safety Office at 540-568-6912 so you can be connected with the appropriate Residence Life staff member. Be sure to follow instructions about isolation provided to you by the medical provider who tested you and the Virginia Department of Health and report the positive test result through MyJMUChart.

If you live off campus, please follow instructions about isolation provided to you by the medical provider who tested you and the Virginia Department of Health and report the positive test result through MyJMUChart.

Update on Cases
The university observed 2 new positive cases of COVID-19 at the Health Center yesterday, and 1 self-reported student case, putting the number of active cases at 35. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds is at 430 out of 443. 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.

Stop the Spread HELPline
If students and their families have questions and can’t readily find the answers in our FAQs, call the Stop the Spread HELPline, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The toll-free number is 888-886-3131. Please note: Due to greatly reduced call volume, the HELPline will close for the semester beginning Friday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. 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. Call center agents will continue to monitor email and the form submissions for the remainder of the semester. Should conditions warrant, the HELPline can be reopened. Please note, the HELPline is not for reporting noncompliance with health guidance and the Stop the Spread Agreement signed by all students. Please use the LiveSafe app, which goes directly to the JMU Public Safety dispatch.

Stay safe, and please remember that the only vaccine currently available for COVID-19 is solidarity. And download the COVIDWISE app!

 

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Published: Thursday, November 19, 2020

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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