Campus Update - August 24, 2021

Dear Colleagues:

As we move into the Fall semester and increased campus activities, you are likely to encounter students and colleagues who have questions about illness related to and exposures to COVID-19.  Here are some reminders as to how to manage these situations:  

Illness/Symptoms:  Anyone who is ill should stay home and avoid all interactions with others.  A list of common COVID-19 symptoms appears at the link below. 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

Those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should obtain a test as soon as possible.  Students may be tested at EKU Student Health Services.  Others may find testing sites at the link below. 

https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-covid-testing. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-covid-testing

Please do not encourage students, faculty, or staff to attend class or work functions while ill.   Please stay home if you are ill, out of care for yourself and others.  It is appropriate to shift work to remote format while ill, if you feel well enough to work and wish to do so. 

Contact Tracing:  EKU employs a team of highly trained contact tracers who continually monitor reports.  These contact tracers, all of whom are EKU employees, work during evenings and weekends to follow up on reports, alert people to exposure, and help maintain the health and well-being of our community.  They will advise you as to whether or not isolation is needed or if a class should be temporarily moved to a remote format. 

Exposure:  If you have tested positive for COVID-19, have a known exposure, are experiencing symptoms, or have a report of someone else testing positive, please use the reporting forms at the link below: 

https://staywell.eku.edu/facultystaff-covid-19-coronavirus-reporting-form. Click or tap if you trust this link.">https://staywell.eku.edu/facultystaff-covid-19-coronavirus-reporting-form

General practices and information: 

• Wear a mask anytime you are indoors and interacting with another person, as is already required by EKU.  You may remove the mask when alone in your office or other indoor space.  Please wear a mask when interacting with others, even if the vaccination status of the other person is known to you.
• Maintain distancing where possible.
• Outdoor activities carry a much lower risk of COVID-19 transmission.  Thus, masking in outdoor settings is not currently required unless specifically indicated by event organizers.
• Being around someone who has tested positive does not necessarily mean you will have to isolate.  The current guidelines from the CDC and the Kentucky Department for Public Health indicate that a fully vaccinated, non-symptomatic individual is NOT considered a “close contact” when they are exposed to a known COVID-19 positive case.  If you have been exposed and experience symptoms, you should get a COVID-19 test five days after the exposure. Again, if you are experiencing symptoms, you should self-isolate.  If you are not experiencing symptoms, heed the advice of contact tracers.
• EKU is following the current version of the guidelines for K-12 settings.  These guidelines call for masking while indoors and around others and recommend that students remain at least 3’ from others whenever possible in the classroom environment. Since faculty traditionally face students, it is recommended that you remain at least 6’ from your students.
• Properly masking, coupled with the social distancing recommendations, will help limit the spread of this disease and will limit individuals being considered “close contacts”.  

We recognize that the changing environment may produce questions and some degree of anxiety.  Please be assured that we are monitoring developments closely.  Questions should be directed to Sara (academics) or Bryan (regulations, tracing). We are here to help.

Published on August 25, 2021