JMU Health Update - Nov. 16

Dear JMU Family,

Counseling for Accident Witnesses
President Alger sent a message over the weekend about one of our students who was killed in a tragic pedestrian accident. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Maylea Beasley. Let us all lift them up in our thoughts and prayers.

Here is a reminder that the JMU Counseling Center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 540-568-6552 and selecting option 1. Affected students also are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students by phone at 540-568-6468 or by email at deanofstudents@jmu.edu for additional support. More resources for dealing with loss can be found here.

Testing Before Thanksgiving
Opportunities remain to get tested for COVID-19 before Thanksgiving, but appointments are filling up!

• Today at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, from 2 to 5 p.m. Open to all students, faculty, staff and the community. You can preregister or register on-site.

Tips to Minimize Risk Before Traveling for the Holidays
The Virginia Department of Health recommends the following:

• Limit interaction with others for 14 days before departure.
• Wear a mask (also known as a cloth face covering) whenever you interact with another person, especially if you are less than 6 feet apart, even if you are outside.
• Consider getting tested for COVID-19 before you travel and wait until you have the results before you go. Ideally, this testing would be done as close to your date of departure as possible and no more than 10 to 14 days before traveling.
• Get a flu vaccine at least two weeks before traveling.
• Always follow the COVID-19 core prevention steps (e.g., distancing, masks, hand-washing) and the VDH recommendations for travelers to minimize the risk of exposure during travel (whether by personal vehicle or public transportation).

Update on Cases
The university observed 0 new positive cases of COVID-19 at the Health Center on Friday and over the weekend, as well as 4 self-reported student cases and 1 report of a staff member who tested positive, putting the number of active cases at 22. The number of open quarantine and isolation beds is at 421 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!