JMU Health Update - Nov. 11

Dear JMU Family,

Free Testing Today
A total of 1,000 free tests are available to students, faculty, staff and the community from 2 to 6 p.m. today at UPARK. Testing is sponsored by Health and Human Services, the Virginia Department of Health, the City of Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and JMU. We recommend you preregister, but you can still register on-site. If you preregister, please print the voucher and bring it with you. This will save you time upon arrival.

Core COVID-19 Prevention Steps, Regardless of Setting

As the virus resurges across the country, the Virginia Department of Health wants to remind everyone of the basic public health guidance for staying safe:

• Maintain a safe distance between yourself and others. This means staying out of crowded places and keeping at least 6 feet away from others whenever possible. Even when staying 6 feet apart, you should limit the amount of time spent with people other than those in your household.
• Wear a mask (also known as a cloth face covering) in public settings whenever possible, even when distancing.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can be substituted.
• Stay home when any of the following conditions are met:
  • You are sick (even if symptoms are very mild)
  • You have tested positive for COVID-19 on a viral test
  • You are waiting for COVID-19 test results
  • You have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days

Prevention of influenza (flu) is also important this time of year. The best way to prevent the flu is with a flu vaccine. A flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older, every year. Because it takes the body about two weeks to develop protection, it is recommended that students get the flu vaccine now, or at least two weeks before returning home.

Update on Cases
The university observed 1 new positive case of COVID-19 at the Health Center yesterday, as well as 2 self-reported cases, with 6 students becoming considered “recovered,” meaning they were diagnosed as positive more than 10 days ago and are no longer infectious, putting the number of active cases at 21. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds is at 401 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. 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!