Dear Truman Community,
Here’s a seven-minute video with Drs. Daley-Moore and Alberts discussing this week’s numbers and context about how the campus is doing.
Numbers on campus are up to 21 cases, which wasn’t totally unexpected. People are back on campus, meeting in groups, so the “bloom” was not a surprise. Still, it’s a cause to worry a little bit, since we don’t want to see additional bloom to other groups.
Even those who are vaccinated should continue to mask, on campus (where it’s a rule) and in town (where it’s not), and should continue to wash their hands, avoid long times with others in small spaces indoors. Those who are not vaccinated should do all of those things and more, and of course, we recommend you to consider getting vaccinated.
Those who have been vaccinated will not be asked to formally quarantine if they are exposed to a positive case, but we do ask them to watch for symptoms and to get tested a few days after exposure, and to consider a “baby self-quarantine” until they get those results. Those who have not been vaccinated will continue to be quarantined for 10 days if they no symptoms and a negative test. Of course, those who test positive are still isolated for 14 days from their initial exposure.
Faculty are still encouraged to maintain seating charts, so that only those within six feet will be contacted by the contract tracing team. We still encourage them to support students who are in isolation, quarantine, or self-quarantine, as much they possibly can. Faculty are also encouraged to remind students that the mask goes over the mouth AND nose, which is vitally important in classrooms and other spaces where social distance cannot be maintained.
A campus survey will be coming out soon, so please do complete that when it is sent. That input will be part of the information used to reconsider campus policies as we move forward. Our next decision point is September 15, so having good preliminary results by then will help inform the best decisions for our community.
An vaccine clinic is planned for tomorrow, September 2, from 1-4 PM at the Health Center, open to anyone 18 and older. Spots are still available, but you do have to pre-register. Details and a link to the registration site can be found here: http://newsletter.truman.edu/article.asp?id=28524
You can also go most anytime to HyVee, Walgreens and other local pharmacies to get your shot.
COVID tests are available on campus for students and at many local pharmacies and health providers, although there are some local shortages with the “gold-standard” PCR test right now. Some pharmacies also offer rapid tests that take only a few minutes, and you can even by at-home kits at some.
Although we aim these updates at our campus community, please do share this information or the video with students in your classes, with parents, and elsewhere. This information is shared with all students via their COVID Blackboard page and sent directly to all Truman faculty and staff, and shared on our public web page here:
https://www.truman.edu/coronavirus/covid-19-working-group-videos/
If you have questions or topics you’d like to know more about, please contact us at: ndmoore@truman.edu
-Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group
Nancy Daley-Moore, PhD, Health Science
Christine Harker, PhD, English
Scott Alberts, PhD, Statistics
Related Links:
Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails
Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
Recent Campus Communications: