Dear Truman community,

Our current cases dropped this week (see table below), but because of changes to how county-level data is being reported, we have less confidence in these numbers than we had before. Our Adair County Health Department has not made a public decision about how these changes were implemented, but we have seen news reports detailing the effects in other counties.

https://www.kmzu.com/more-local-health-departments-curtailing-covid-19-services/

This five-minute video explains our current numbers, our data worries, and some glimmers about omicron.

https://zoom.us/rec/share/tZCXDgC92Hj0Ak93fKEMuzYJkvr3PMAdKM54SOjwvqsCre7He4UM4jzlUDiFbNzH.8QIzyx5KeSSVYFKM?startTime=1639522271000

Overall, our semester count of ~80 campus cases is much better than last year, when we had about 300 campus cases in the fall and 200 in the spring. Still, Adair county is showing a huge spike right now, so please do be thoughtful and intentional as you think about your holiday travel: https://covidactnow.org/us/missouri-mo/county/adair_county/?s=26811580

As we wind down the semester, we hope you have a relaxing break, and that you do take steps to reduce stress where you can. Similarly, additional Sleep, Exercise, and healthy eating are good for your general health, and also help your body’s immune system stay strong.

==

This is our last update of the fall semester. In the spring, we will continue to do occasional updates and videos as we can.

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the 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, 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

	Active Cases in Isolation		Recovered Cases	Recovered Cases
Week	Student	Fac/Staff	Fall 2021	Total
Aug 24	6	2	0	525
Aug 31	21	0	8	533
Sep 7	13	1	23	548
Sep 14	9	0	33	558
Sep 21	3	0	42	567
Sep 28	1	0	46	571
Oct 5	5	0	46	571
Oct 12	3	0	51	576
Oct 19	0	0	54	579
Oct 26	0	0	54	579
Nov 2	3	0	54	579
Nov 9	1	0	56	581
Nov 16	0	0	57	582
Nov 23	1	1	57	582
Nov 30	4	2	57	582
Dec 7	10	0	65	590
Dec 14	3	3	73	598

 

From December 14^th onward, some county-level data may not be included in our counts.

The next update will be in January.

---

Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

 

Dear Truman Community,

While Truman loves Spike the Bulldog, we sure don’t like the spike in cases we saw this week, both on campus and in the county. With 10 active cases on campus and over 130 active cases in Adair County, with the fastest spike we’ve seen at the county level and sadly, four county-level deaths in the past week. We still don’t have as many cases as we did last fall, but it’s definitely concerning. As we finish the semester and prepare to travel for the holiday, we worry both about taking COVID out to the community and bringing it back to Kirksville afterwards.

The president announced yesterday that we will start the spring semester with masks. Given the increased cases and the worries about the omicron variant, it was probably the only choice, but we hope Truman and the region is in a better place at the end of January, when the policy is next reconsidered.

We still don’t know as much as we’d like about omicron, but some initial data is hopeful that, while it spreads more than delta or other variants, it causes a less severe version of the disease. This combination would be good news, since it would help us move into the endemic state without having so many hospitalizations and deaths. On the other hand, omicron does seem to re-infect more, especially those who were relying on a previous infection for immunity. So, if you were skipping the vaccine because you had COVID last year, we strongly encourage you to get the vaccine now.

Even if you are vaccinated, we encourage you to get tested before you travel, perhaps with a drive-thru test a local pharmacy a few days before you leave. We are hearing that rapid tests will soon be much more available, but currently, they don’t seem very easy to find around town.

We also encourage you to think intentionally about your plans over the holiday. While we imagine that most all of us will travel, please do be careful if you are planning to be around those who are vulnerable or unvaccinated.

We also hope that you can relax over break, and even try to minimize your stress for the upcoming finals week. While pulling an all-nighter to study or finish that paper seems like a good idea, your health, even beyond COVID, is supported by getting enough sleep, exercise, healthy food, and being able to relax and rejuvenate when you can.

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the 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, 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

	Active Cases in Isolation		Recovered Cases	Recovered Cases
Week	Student	Fac/Staff	Fall 2021	Total
Aug 24	6	2	0	525
Aug 31	21	0	8	533
Sep 7	13	1	23	548
Sep 14	9	0	33	558
Sep 21	3	0	42	567
Sep 28	1	0	46	571
Oct 5	5	0	46	571
Oct 12	3	0	51	576
Oct 19	0	0	54	579
Oct 26	0	0	54	579
Nov 2	3	0	54	579
Nov 9	1	0	56	581
Nov 16	0	0	57	582
Nov 23	1	1	57	582
Nov 30	4	2	57	582
Dec 7	10	0	65	590

---

Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

 

 

Truman will continue the indoor mask policy into the beginning of the Spring 2022 Semester, with the next review of the policy occurring on or before January 28.

With a large portion of the campus community traveling during winter break, setting the review date three class weeks into the semester will allow for time to properly assess the rate of students and employees exposed to the virus.

Decisions regarding the mask policy are made by the president in consultation with the executive leadership team.  Factors taken into consideration include, but are not limited to: the number of active cases related to the University; the transmission rate in Adair County; the campus vaccination rate; Truman’s capacity to effectively accommodate students in isolation and quarantine; guidance of the CDC and the local health department; and the advice of Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and Student Government.

Office of the President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

---

Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• Mask Policy Updates
• All Communication

 

Dear Campus Community,

We have four active student cases and two active faculty/staff cases, including several carry-overs from last week. Given the increasing numbers in Adair County and our Thanksgiving travel, we’d expect that numbers may increase as the semester ends. With finals coming up, we recommend returning to a level where you wear masks not just on-campus, but going out to the store or other public places. Even if you have a mild (or even asymptomatic) case, no one wants to be quarantined or isolated during finals week if they can help it.

This week, you have probably also seen the discussion of omicron in the news. It’s too early to know much, and there’s no reason to panic right now. Still, we should all keep an eye on it as scientists start to learn more. All signs are that current vaccines do substantially work against the new variant, so those who haven’t gotten vaccinated yet should maybe reconsider given this new outbreak. The other layers of “Swiss Cheese” are still effective against the new variant: masking, distance, hand-washing. We remind you that masks are only effective if they cover both the nose and mouth, and maybe it’s a good time to invest in some better masks that work well, stay in place and are comfortable.

We also discussed the idea that you might want to be tested for COVID before you leave for the long winter holiday. Testing is pretty easy at local pharmacies (Walgreens, Hy-Vee, Walmart, and more), and results usually take a couple of days to find out. But, especially if you’ll be spending the holiday with those who might be vulnerable, testing negative might make you worry a bit less.

This seven minute video discusses the week’s numbers and news, including omicron:

https://zoom.us/rec/share/kZbQb1zrYabe2YyRqmbQ5_nr5Bhj4SgTHgJVEqRkMNYyHI_G2lyb_mpmik0tDg.cT-3bwVChfSBQnRs?startTime=1638312489000

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the 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, 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

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	Active Cases in Isolation		Recovered Cases	Recovered Cases
Week	Student	Fac/Staff	Fall 2021	Total
Aug 24	6	2	0	525
Aug 31	21	0	8	533
Sep 7	13	1	23	548
Sep 14	9	0	33	558
Sep 21	3	0	42	567
Sep 28	1	0	46	571
Oct 5	5	0	46	571
Oct 12	3	0	51	576
Oct 19	0	0	54	579
Oct 26	0	0	54	579
Nov 2	3	0	54	579
Nov 9	1	0	56	581
Nov 16	0	0	57	582
Nov 23	1	1	57	582
Nov 30	4	2	57	582

---

Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

 

 

 

Dear Campus Community,

Once again, we have zero reported COVID cases on campus, and a month with only three cases (one case was counted over two weeks in the chart at the bottom of this e-mail). Still, zero cases is not the same as “No COVID,” so we do ask that you continue to be thoughtful as we start to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

This five-minute video summaries the numbers and the news.

https://zoom.us/rec/share/coQ1RPvpANcZSgR2MyiPuSFHvJSXza9D0lmm3s31w3jqnv-tAdnFvKtBNufduSaD.-RirgN5B77q-KIFT?startTime=1637103511000

We also talk a bit about the extension of the mask mandate through at least the end of the semester. We were really hoping that our numbers would be good enough to relax it a bit, but the county case counts and our campus verified vaccine rates just weren’t where we hoped they would be.

Please do consider having a COVID test if you are sick, even if you’re pretty sure it isn’t COVID, and if you’re travelling home to people who are vulnerable or if or they are not vaccinated. You probably want to go soon if you want the results before you leave town, since the rapid tests are sometimes still a bit hard to come by, and the regular PCR test takes 2-3 dates to get results.

If you get your first vaccine shot this week, you can still be fully vaccinated by the end of the semester, but time is running out for that as well. COVID and Flu vaccines continue to be available around town and at various clinics and events.

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the 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, 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

 

	Active Cases in Isolation		Recovered Cases	Recovered Cases
Week	Student	Fac/Staff	Fall 2021	Total
Aug 24	6	2	0	525
Aug 31	21	0	8	533
Sep 7	13	1	23	548
Sep 14	9	0	33	558
Sep 21	3	0	42	567
Sep 28	1	0	46	571
Oct 5	5	0	46	571
Oct 12	3	0	51	576
Oct 19	0	0	54	579
Oct 26	0	0	54	579
Nov 2	3	0	54	579
Nov 9	1	0	56	581
Nov 16	0	0	57	582

---

Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

 

 

Dear Campus Community,

We have one active case reported this week, a holdover from last week. So, there are no new reported cases, which is good, but we know that COVID is still on our campus.

You have probably heard by now that the campus mask policy was extended through the end of the semester. The decision was influenced by state and local case count trends, which halted their downward trend in the last few weeks, but also because our verification effort did not show the vaccinated percentages we were hoping to see. That’s a bit disappointing to see, but we think that it was probably the best decision for our campus.

The policy remains:

• Masks are required inside all campus buildings, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.
• The only exceptions are for dining and when in a personal residence hall room or office.

This does include evenings and weekends. Although you can be unmasked in your personal office when you are alone, you should wear a mask when others are in the enclosed space with you.

We are hearing cases where the mask policy isn’t being followed, and we really want to encourage you to mask, especially in classrooms. Classrooms are a place where students are present for an extended period in close proximity. While campus ventilation is generally good, wearing masks as that extra layer of “Swiss cheese” really can make a difference in cases spreading, even among those who are vaccinated.

If you do see a class or an office that isn’t following the procedures, please do say something, either to the actual people without a mask, or to the appropriate chair, director, or dean. No one wants to be the tattletale, but we know that our relatively low numbers are due to our good compliance.

We do want to remind you that there are many vaccination options in the community right now, and while you probably can’t be fully vaxxed before leaving for Thanksgiving, the partial immunity of the first shot will still help if you get it soon.

More generally, as you are considering your Thanksgiving plans, please do try to avoid being in enclosed spaces with unvaccinated, unmasked individuals for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what Thanksgiving means to many of us, so do encourage your family and friends to also consider being vaccinated before the holidays.

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the 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, 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

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

	Active Cases in Isolation		Recovered Cases	Recovered Cases
Week	Student	Fac/Staff	Fall 2021	Total
Aug 24	6	2	0	525
Aug 31	21	0	8	533
Sep 7	13	1	23	548
Sep 14	9	0	33	558
Sep 21	3	0	42	567
Sep 28	1	0	46	571
Oct 5	5	0	46	571
Oct 12	3	0	51	576
Oct 19	0	0	54	579
Oct 26	0	0	54	579
Nov 2	3	0	54	579
Nov 2	1	0	56	581

---

Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website

 

 

Dear Campus Community:

COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will be available for eligible Truman employees from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, and Wednesday, November 10, in the Alumni Room 2105 (main floor) at the Student Union Building.

To be eligible, employees must have received their second shot at least six months ago (at least two months ago for those receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine). Unvaccinated employees may also attend the clinic to begin the vaccination process.

The consent form – including the requested insurance information – must be completed to receive the vaccine. Please bring the completed form with you if possible. Forms will also be available at the clinic. Employees should also bring their COVID vaccination cards so they can be updated.

The clinics will be conducted by Hy-Vee. Registration is not required.

Please wear a short-sleeve shirt or other clothing that allows access to the upper arm, where the shot will be administered.

If you are unable to attend, vaccines may also be received from local pharmacies and the Adair County Health Department.

Human Resources
Truman State University
McClain Hall 101
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4031
hrstaff@truman.edu
www.truman.edu

---

Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

Dear Campus Community:

The COVID-19 vaccination incentive ended Monday. While we did not reach our goal, the confirmed vaccination participation rate moved our campus in a positive direction. In recognition of the significant increase in the confirmed vaccination rate, Truman employees have earned a reduced work schedule for Tuesday, November 23.

According to data from the incentive program, the known fully vaccinated rate for Truman employees is 72.1 percent. Had the total reached 75 percent, the entire day of November 23 would have been awarded as a paid day off, and offices would have been closed.

Because the rate was close to the goal, employees will receive four hours of paid leave for that day. Campus offices can be closed beginning at noon.

Employees who work in departments with alternate work schedules should coordinate with their supervisors on observing their adjusted leave for November 23.

Nonexempt personnel who are designated as essential and who are required to work more than four hours on November 23 will be compensated as outlined in the Campus Cancellation Policy.

Human Resources
Truman State University
McClain Hall 101
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4031
hrstaff@truman.edu
www.truman.edu

---

Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

Truman State University will extend its current campus mask policy until the end of the semester.

This decision was reached after careful consideration of a variety of factors, including campus vaccination rates and recommendations from the CDC.  Constituent groups, including Student Government, Staff Council, and Faculty Senate, were also consulted.

Data from the recent vaccine incentive program indicates the known fully vaccinated rate is 57% for all students, 63% for residence hall students, and 72% for employees.  While those numbers exceed the general county rate, they are not high enough on their own to mitigate exposure to and spread of the virus.  The mask policy, in conjunction with the campus vaccination rate, has helped to keep Truman-related cases to a minimum.

Based on the CDC COVID Data Tracker, community transmission in Adair County is still listed as “substantial” and masks are recommended for everyone in public, indoor settings.

As has been the case since the beginning of the pandemic, the University will maintain a flexible approach in regard to COVID-19 and make decisions based on all relevant information available.  The mask policy will be reviewed again for the start of the Spring 2022 semester.

Office of the President
200 McClain Hall
100 E. Normal Avenue
Kirksville, MO 63501
(660) 785-4100
www.truman.edu

---

Related Links:

• Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website
• All Communications

 

Dear Campus Community,

We couldn’t keep our zero streak going this week, with three active COVID cases. Still better than last year, going on eight weeks in a row with five cases or fewer, but we aren’t quite out of the woods yet.

A four-minute video with Drs. Daley-Moore and Alberts gives a summary of what we’re thinking about this.

https://zoom.us/rec/share/1Z-uthkShgU1NEGKRd266b-oYJITaE7PW6SCiphAC7Ukenq7SZbUbF3K85kbruF5.Nucavx7R4kF6-zmR?startTime=1635891454000

We are still finding that many of us have colds, allergies and other “crud,” so if you are having symptoms, we do encourage you to get a COVID test at one of the area providers. The campus health office has made it easier to get a rapid or PCR test without a consult, and are pharmacies continue to have easy online signups.

We also still suggest you get a flu shot while you’re out, and to consider getting vaccinated or boosted if you need to. The vaccine for ages 5-11 has now been fully approved (after the video was made), and we think that will help the community, including those of us on campus.

The vaccine incentive program is complete, and we expect those numbers to be shared soon. We hope the vaccination numbers are high enough that we can really start to imagine moving into a new phase with COVID. We’ll see how that number fits with the other data we have, case counts and vaccine counts, from campus, the county, and the region, as well as recommendations from the local, state, and federal authorities.

Thanksgiving is on the horizon, so we encourage you to plan now. Will you be indoors with a large group of unvaccinated people for a long time? How can you reduce your risk? If you get vaccinated soon, you can be fully vaccinated before you go home, so if you haven’t gotten it yet, now is a good time.

==

Although we aim these updates at our faculty and the 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, 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

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

	Active Cases in Isolation		Recovered Cases	Recovered Cases
Week	Student	Fac/Staff	Fall 2021	Total
Aug 24	6	2	0	525
Aug 31	21	0	8	533
Sep 7	13	1	23	548
Sep 14	9	0	33	558
Sep 21	3	0	42	567
Sep 28	1	0	46	571
Oct 5	5	0	46	571
Oct 12	3	0	51	576
Oct 19	0	0	54	579
Oct 26	0	0	54	579
Nov 2	3	0	54	579

Related Links:

Faculty Senate COVID-19 Working Group Videos and Emails

All COVID-19 Campus Communications

Coronavirus Updates and Resources Website