MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University has released coronavirus guidance for students and staff for the upcoming fall semester.
WVU Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop said there are fewer restrictions, but in some cases more will be asked of students.
“We’ll be in full classrooms, we’ll recommend, and if you feel comfortable wearing a mask to do so, but it will not be required,” Alsop said Wednesday evening. “We are not requiring, but we are strongly encouraging vaccinations- we’re ready to go for the school year.”
Active cases in the state have bounced around the 3,000 mark for the last several weeks and hospitalizations have remained between 300 and 350 during the same period. Case trends and the average number of deaths over a seven day period has not topped four since the middle of May- the last time students were on campus.
“As we’ve learned and as we’ve had more tools, particularly these wonderful vaccines and some of the medications that are available, we’ve evolved as we’ve had to learn to live with COVID-19,” Alsop said.
Alsop said there will be ample opportunities for testing on campus, through medical providers and the health department but it will be up to the student to self-monitor, get tested if you suspect you’re sick.
Students in residence halls will isolate in Lyon Tower and off-campus students will be asked to stay home.
“They should contact our shared services line or email them and let them know you’ve tested positive and you’re in a residence hall and they’ll take you over to the isolation dorm for that period of time,” Alsop said.
In the event of a positive test students must notify close contacts and make arrangements to complete required course work. Masks are strictly optional until a positive coronavirus diagnosis is confirmed.
People who test positive must wear a mask, isolate for five days then wear a mask for five additional days while in public.
Alsop said students required to isolate in Lyon Tower will have the school support to help with and monitor their condition.
“They’ll be expected and required to go Lyon Hall for five days and we’ll check in them and make sure they’re doing ok,” Alsop said. “At the end of the five-day period they’ll come out.”
Alsop stressed student cooperation will be vital in the fall to keep the virus at bay. Testing is encouraged so students can verify their status and the campus can continue normal operations.
“This is not the same as the flu or something like that,” Alsop said. “It will be more on the individual too if you’re not feeling well to go to your provider and make sure you don’t have COVID or anything else and if you’re contagious to follow the CDC recommendations.”
The university no longer requires vaccine verification and it will no longer maintain the coronavirus dashboard as in the past.