JMU Health Update - Jan. 20
News
Dear JMU Family,
A New Semester
With the beginning of spring semester classes yesterday and activity returning to campus soon, the JMU Daily Health Update resumes today. Good luck to everyone, and let’s stay safe and healthy and look out for each other. And don’t forget, after we returned to campus in early October, everyone followed the Stop the Spread guidance faithfully, and JMU had one of the lowest numbers of active COVID-19 cases among the big public universities in Virginia as a result. Let’s all maintain that same faithful commitment to our community’s public health going into the spring!
Vaccinations
If you are in our local area, please visit the Central Shenandoah Health District website for information about the COVID-19 vaccine. The Virginia Department of Health website also has helpful information about when the vaccine may be available to you. At this time, the UHC is not a COVID-19 vaccination site. However, JMU is actively working with the Virginia Department of Health in planning for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations in the Central Shenandoah Health District, and we will communicate updates from VDH as they become available.
Entry Testing
Most students living on campus already have registered to receive their entry test at the end of January. If you have not yet done so, please do. More information can be found here. Other universities that already have returned to campus are reporting very low positivity rates among their student entry tests, which is good news. So that JMU also can return to campus safely, please quarantine until you return to campus.
Update on Cases
The university observed 2 new positive student cases of COVID-19 at the Health Center yesterday putting the number of active cases at 7. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds is at 275 out of 275. More information can be found on the university’s Stop the Spread dashboard. As the pandemic continues to surge, 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. 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. 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 download the COVIDWISE app!
