MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University has set its COVID-19 campus health and safety protocols for the second semester, which is set to begin Jan. 10.
The most notable change in policy will be in testing, where unvaxxed people had previously been required to undergo random surveillance testing. This will not be the case in the spring.
The COVID-19 protocols will be re-evaluated as additional information becomes available relating to the omicron variant, the consideration of the FDA by new therapeutic medicines, as well as levels of infection and hospitalization as we move closer to the spring semester, a release said.
“It is important, even though we may be weary of the pandemic, that we do not let down our guard,” said Dr. Jeffrey Coben, dean of the School of Public Health and associate vice president for Health Affairs in a release.
“We have had success to this point in mitigating the impact of the virus on our campuses because our faculty, staff and students have taken this threat seriously, and I urge that we continue to take care of ourselves and each other. Please consider getting fully vaccinated, including a booster dose if applicable.”
The spring semester will include a traditional Spring Recess March 12-20. Details about assigned seating and seating charts for contact tracing purposes will be shared with faculty and instructors in the coming weeks.
Protocols were highlighted by WVU on Wednesday in a news release.
Mask protocols:
At this time, masks will continue to be required for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, in all classrooms, labs or any WVU System facility or building being used as a classroom.
Masks are expected, but not required, for those who are unvaccinated against COVID-19 in all indoor settings as well as outdoors where large groups are gathered. Additionally, masks will be required, regardless of vaccination status, for passengers on the PRT and WVU buses through March 18, 2022, under updated federal guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration.
Masks may also be required in clinical and patient care areas of the Health Sciences Campus.
COVID-19 module for new, incoming students
New students starting at WVU this spring are required to take the COVID-19 education module by Jan. 9, 2022. Those who are returning this spring do not need to retake the module. Those required to take the module will receive an email soon from covidmodule@notify.wvu.edu with more information on how to complete the module. Please check junk and spam folders for expected emails that have not been directed to the inbox.
Vaccines:
WVU continues to strongly urge everyone to be fully vaccinated and to get a COVID-19 booster. Employees and students, especially new students starting this spring, are asked to verify their vaccine status at http://myhousing.wvu.edu.
Those on the Health Sciences Campus involved in patient care, including residents, fellows and students, are required to follow separate WVU Health System or other clinical provider’s policies, including those related to COVID-19, such as masks, PPE and vaccinations.
Some faculty, staff and students working on or in connection with certain federal contracts may be required by executive order to be vaccinated. Questions may be directed to talentandculture@mail.wvu.edu.
WVU Medicine Student Health has the Pfizer vaccine available for WVU students at its clinic in the Health and Education Building. Walk-in appointments are offered during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).
The Monongalia County Health Department is offering free vaccinations by appointment on most days at its facility at 453 Van Voorhis Rd. Anyone who wishes to be vaccinated can call the MCHD at 304-598-5119 to schedule an appointment.
Vaccines will continue to be offered on the Morgantown campus one day a week in partnership with the MCHD. More details will be shared in the coming weeks.
Other vaccination opportunities can be found at vaccines.gov.
Testing and monitoring:
Due to high vaccination verification rates, WVU will not conduct or require campus-wide COVID-19 testing at the start of the semester. Any sample/surveillance testing during the semester will be based upon situations as they arise.
Testing will be available in partnership with the MCHD which will continue to offer community testing opportunities for the WVU community. Visit https://www.monchd.org/ for more information.
For personal safety and the safety of others, students and employees should not ignore symptoms of COVID-19; those with any symptoms of COVID-19 should not report to campus for work or class.
All WVU community members are required to report if they test positive for COVID-19 or are quarantining due to suspected or known exposure to COVID-19. In Morgantown, students and employees should report their positive results to CareServices@mail.wvu.edu.
Testing and vaccination information for WVU Tech students and employees are available on the Beckley Return to Campus website.
Similarly, testing information for students and employees at WVU Potomac State College can be found on the WVU Keyser Return to Campus site.
Isolation and quarantine procedures:
The University continues to implement isolation and quarantine procedures on campus. Students living in the residence halls who have COVID-19 will be isolated in Gaskins House.
WVU’s public dashboard will be updated to report the vaccination verification rate on a biweekly basis for the Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser campuses. WVU COVID-19 case counts and testing information will not be reported on the dashboard due to the change in testing strategy.