JMU Health Update - Oct. 21

Dear JMU Family,

Free COVID-19 Testing for All Today
Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to visit University Park from 2 to 7 p.m. today for free COVID-19 drive-through testing. A total of 1,000 tests will be available to anyone, regardless of whether they have symptoms or known close contacts. The tests are self-collected and non-invasive.

Made available through a collaboration among the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Virginia Department of Health, the City of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and JMU, this event is the first in a series of drive-through testing to be administered on Wednesdays over the next five weeks. The dates are Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Limited walk-up testing is also available. More details can be found here. You may pre-register here. To create an account, click on the “Register or Logon” button, then click “Start Assessment” to answer a few questions before making your appointment. You can also register on-site.

Update on Cases
The university observed 2 new positive cases of COVID-19 at the Health Center yesterday, as well as 1 self-reported case, with 5 students becoming considered “recovered,” meaning they were diagnosed as positive more than 10 days ago and are no longer infectious. The number of active cases is at 38. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds is at 462 out of 477. 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. 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 please remember that the only vaccine currently available for COVID-19 is solidarity. And download the COVIDWISE app!