Dear OHIO community members,
I am happy to report that COVID cases have remained low on all campuses and surrounding counties in the past two weeks. There was a dramatic increase in cases in Athens County on Saturday, but a large proportion of those were due to recent jurisdiction changes of old cases for which we had already conducted contact tracing. While this is really encouraging news, it is important for us to remain vigilant because we are seeing a rise in global cases and deaths. As weather cools in parts of Europe and the U.S., we are predictably seeing increases in cases. This largely appears to be explained by relaxing precautions and more indoor activities. Given the success we’ve had with our comprehensive prevention strategy at OHIO, I am hopeful that we will continue to keep our campuses safe.
Vaccination rates continue to increase. You will notice a new feature on the vaccination tab of our COVID-19 dashboard – the number of approved exemptions from the vaccine requirement (these are accounted for in the unvaccinated percentages). Vaccination rates as of today:
Total vaccination rate, all campuses: 79.9%
- Athens campus: 85.6%
- Athens on-campus students: 86.6%
- Athens off-campus students: 83.9%
Planning for a safe Thanksgiving
It’s exciting how different things are as we plan for the holidays this year versus last year. Since the COVID-19 vaccines are now protecting most OHIO community members, the prospect of celebrating with loved ones is much safer. I am looking forward to celebrating!
Even as we look forward to the holidays, it's important to remember that many children are not yet fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and that some individuals are at high risk for complications from the virus. I encourage all OHIO community members, vaccinated or not, to test before visiting friends and family this holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving.
Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to schedule asymptomatic tests before and after Thanksgiving travel through CVS or Vault Health on the Athens campus (individuals on regional campuses can pick up take-home tests on their campuses). Testing gives you peace of mind knowing you’re not bringing a risk to your friends and family, no matter their health or vaccination status.
The CVS test is a rapid nasal swab test, appointments can be scheduled up to a week in advance, and availability is limited. The Vault Health option is a saliva test with results in 48-72 hours and appointments are available to schedule weeks in advance. Keep these options in mind as you plan your travel and visits.
Spring Semester testing plan for students living in residence halls
Over Winter Break the University will require students who live in residence halls to take an at-home COVID-19 test before returning for Spring Semester. The highly infectious nature of COVID takes advantage of congregate living settings, so putting this precaution in place will help us prevent and contain any potential outbreaks.
At-home Vault Health COVID-19 test kits will be available for students who live in residence halls to pick up in their halls beginning Nov. 19. Those students will receive emails from COVID Operations and communications from in-hall staff about when, how and where to pick up the tests. The kits will contain instructions for taking a Vault Health test at home, supervised via Zoom.
We encourage students who live off campus to take advantage of our Vault and CVS testing options when they return to school after winter break to keep their roommates and friends safe from any potential transmission.
Vax requirement less than a week away: Document your progress
OHIO’s deadline for students, faculty, and staff to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or an approved exemption is this coming Monday, Nov. 15. If you have not yet uploaded your documents, please get started right away. We have added information to this page to help you document where you are in the process . If you need help completing any of the associated electronic forms, COVID Operations can assist – contact us at COVIDoperations@ohio.edu or 740-566-8445.
So many of us have already satisfied this requirement! We have seen an uptick in attendance at campus vaccination clinics as the date approaches, which is great news for campus health and safety for the rest of the academic year. The vaccines are helping case rates decline and are helping us return to a normal classroom density next semester.
Every time we move closer to "normal," it is not only because of the sacrifices our OHIO community has made along the way, but also because of our collaborative spirit. From University leaders supporting the public health measures that have kept our campuses safe, to the faculty and staff who have gone above and beyond to help students learn and socialize in this challenging environment, to the students who have been diligent about health and safety on our campuses, this has been a truly collaborative effort. The fact that we're looking forward to being together in class next semester with more face-to-face offerings is an amazing achievement for everyone.
Adult boosters and vaccines for children ages five to 11
Booster shots are now available for certain age groups, people with underlying medical conditions, and people who work or live in high-risk settings. Boosters are widely available for scheduling in Ohio through the Ohio Department of Health website .
With the approval of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages five to 11, the Athens City-County Health Department is hosting a vaccination clinic for that age group at Heritage Hall on Union Street on November 19 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Click here to schedule an appointment ; select ACCHD from the list. Find additional opportunities for vaccines for this age group at the same link.
Reminder: Mask requirement remains in effect on all campuses
Masks are still required in all indoor public spaces on OHIO campuses because they remain an essential tool for reducing the spread of COVID-19 even as vaccination rates increase. Masks are an important layer of protection in addition to vaccination and testing. Because vaccinated individuals may still carry the virus, and because the vaccines do not provide 100 percent protection, masks protect those who haven’t yet gotten a second vaccine dose, those who need a booster, those who cannot be vaccinated, and those with compromised immune systems.