Campus Update - March 22, 2022

Dear campus community,

I hope everyone enjoyed a restful Spring Break. We are ready to finish out the Spring Semester strong. National, state, and local data show significant declines in COVID infection rates and health care utilization related to COVID. In Madison County and on campus, we have reached infection rates that the CDC considers a manageable level and where indoor masking is considered optional. 

For this reason, we will move to a campus-wide mask optional status, including in academic spaces, effective Monday, March 28, 2022, which is one week after the return from Spring Break. 

We will remain diligent in protecting the health of our community and will continue to adapt as conditions require. To maintain our low COVID-19 levels, we must continue to adhere to the following:

Isolation and Quarantine

We will continue to adhere to the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s current guidelines for isolation and quarantine:

Test Positive for COVID-19 and Have Symptoms (Isolation Required)

• Isolate for 10 days from the date symptoms began.
• If symptoms fully resolve, isolation may be shortened and end after day 5 on the first day without symptoms.
• Wear a well-fitting face mask for 10 full days from the start of symptoms.
• Isolation should not be shortened if a mask cannot be worn properly and consistently.

Test Positive for COVID-19 and Have Never Had Symptoms (Isolation Required, regardless of vaccination status)

• Isolate for 5 days from the date your test was administered/taken. You may return to campus as long as you continue to not have any symptoms.
• Wear a well-fitting face mask around others for 5 additional days.
• Isolation should be extended to 10 days if a mask cannot be worn properly and consistently.

COVID-19 Exposed (Not Fully Vaccinated/Boosted)

If you are not fully vaccinated or booster-eligible but not yet boosted and have been in https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tr.... Click or tap if you trust this link.">close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19:

• Quarantine for 10 days from your last exposure.
• Quarantine may be shortened to 5 days if you have no symptoms and test negative for COVID-19 after day 5.
• Wear a well-fitting face mask for 10 days from your last exposure.
• Stay home and get a test if symptoms develop.

COVID-19 Exposed (Fully Vaccinated/Boosted)

If you are boosted or fully-vaccinated but not yet booster eligible and have been in https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tr.... Click or tap if you trust this link.">close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19:

• You do not need to quarantine if you do not have any symptoms.
• Wear a well-fitting face mask for 10 full days from your last exposure.
• Get tested for COVID-19 on day 5.
• Stay home and get a test if symptoms develop.  

COVID-19 Testing

Testing for symptomatic students and students considered https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tr.... Click or tap if you trust this link.">close contacts remain available at Student Health Services free of charge. Please contact Student Health Services to make an https://casauth.eku.edu/cas/login?service=https%3a%2f%2feku.medicatconne.... Click or tap if you trust this link.">appointment. Faculty, staff, and other members of our campus community are encouraged to get tested at one of the testing facilities in the community that can be found by clicking https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-get-COVID-tested. Click or tap if you trust this link.">here.  

Contact Tracing

Contact tracing was a vital part of our efforts early in this pandemic to limit the rapid spread of this disease within our community. I appreciate the long hours worked and the valiant efforts of our contact tracing team. They have provided a high level of investigation into cases and assisted our fellow Colonels with quarantine and isolation protocols. I want to thank them for their dedicated service and volunteering in our time of need. Consistent with local and state health protocols, we are transitioning away from contact tracing and asking members of our community to continue to notify those they have been in https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tr.... Click or tap if you trust this link.">close contact with during the infectious period.

Residential students should complete the https://staywell.eku.edu/facultystaff-covid-19-coronavirus-reporting-form. Click or tap if you trust this link.">COVID-19 self-reporting form if they test positive for COVID-19.  

Self-Reporting

Faculty, staff, and students shall continue to report through the self-monitoring tool and upload the positive results in EKU Direct. The https://staywell.eku.edu/facultystaff-covid-19-coronavirus-reporting-form. Click or tap if you trust this link.">COVID-19 self-reporting form is available to report testing and results to our dedicated campus contact tracing team. It is crucial for any student or employee who is exhibiting symptoms, or tested positive, or has sustained https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tr.... Click or tap if you trust this link.">close contact with an individual who is positive to utilize the form for providing information. This data provides critical benefits to our contact tracing efforts and containment of the virus. Positive results should be additionally submitted through the “positive COVID response” link in EKU Direct.  

Masking 

We will continue to provide surgical-style and KN-95 masks to those who wish to have that masking option. 

Colonels Care 

Please continue to practice good hygiene and be considerate of your fellow Colonels. As we learn more from officials at every level, we will communicate any COVID-19 virus-related implementations relevant to our well-being. Until then, please take care of yourself, practice good hygiene and look out for each other.  

Thank you for your continued diligence.

One Eastern,  

David T. McFaddin
President

Published on April 19, 2022