JMU Health Update - Dec. 11

Dear JMU Family,

Governor’s Executive Order 72
Gov. Ralph Northam issued an executive order yesterday aimed at slowing the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the commonwealth. The order imposes a statewide curfew to keep residents home late at night, includes an expanded mask mandate and lowers the number of people allowed in social gatherings. The measures, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, do not change rules for restaurants, stores or houses of worship. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the new restrictions, and above all, please observe public health guidance on masks, physical distancing and hand washing.

So that JMU employees understand how this order will affect university operations, Rick Larson, head of JMU Human Resources, sent this message to all faculty and staff earlier today.

Testing Before the Semester Ends

• Warren Hall (only for students who live on campus), Dec. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. FREE, but you must have an appointment. Please complete these forms and bring them with you to your appointment.
• Appointments are still available at the University Health Center for testing, but they are filling up fast. To make an appointment, call 540-568-6178.

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.

Update on Cases
Since Dec. 9, the university observed 5 new positive student cases of COVID-19 at the Health Center, 1 self-reported student case, 1 employee who tested positive at the UHC and 3 employees who self-reported testing positive, putting the number of active cases at 24. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds is at 441 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
Due to greatly reduced call volume, the HELPline is closed for the semester. If students and their families have questions and can’t readily find the answers in our FAQs, Stop the Spread HELPline call center agents will be answering questions sent to covid19@jmu.edu, and you can submit questions via a form on the Stop the Spread site. The HELPline could be reopened if conditions warrant it. 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!