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Here is this week’s update regarding the ongoing College-wide efforts to safeguard the health of our community. Please note important news regarding vaccinations and ongoing testing clinics.
Vaccinations
We are pleased to announce that there have been several developments regarding vaccination prioritization. Here are the highlights of the developments that are pertinent to our community:
All frontline essential workers in Group 3 are now eligible for vaccinations. This group includes all Guilford faculty and staff. I have sent out information to those eligible on options for being vaccinated in Guilford County.
Governor Cooper announced that Group 4 will be moved up a week and will be eligible to receive the vaccine beginning on March 24. Group 4 includes our students in congregate living settings. Students living in these settings – on and off campus – will be eligible to receive vaccinations on April 7. I will have a deeper dive into who is eligible for this group as we get closer to April 7.
There is an educational discussion about the COVID-19 vaccine that is being produced by the Montagnard American Organization (MAO). The discussion will be led by two Cone Health doctors and will be held tonight, March 12 at 5:30pm via Zoom. You can join the discussion via this link.
COVID-19 Testing
We held a testing clinic this week on March 9. Here are the results::
Total Tests Administered: 242
Total Positive Tests: 0
Total Invalid Tests: 0
Outstanding Tests: 0
Positive Test Percentage Rate: 0%
Upcoming Testing
We have changed our surveillance COVID testing strategy beginning Tuesday, Feb. 23. Instead of a random sampling each week, we will employ a three-week rotation of community members planning to be on campus. This includes on-campus residents, off-campus students, faculty, staff, and campus contractors. Our community will be broken up into thirds to be rotated through testing. Here is the schedule:
- Cohort 1 - March 16, April 6, April 27
- Cohort 2 - March 23, April 13
- Cohort 3 - March 30, April 20
We believe this process is more efficient and easier to track than the current testing model. You will receive an email in the next few days with your cohort group. You may also sign up for testing on any other testing day, if you choose.
Testing will now be held in the Community Center (the building between the North and South Apartments).
Important Reminder - Please pre-register before you come to the testing site by texting the word COVID to 704-850-6996 or by going to www.starmed.care and clicking the "Register Now" button. Pre-registration takes about 5 minutes. You will need a photo ID and your medical insurance card to complete the registration. This PCR nasal test is free of charge, covered either by medical insurance or the CARES Act.
Please remain vigilant this next week and do everything you can protect yourself and others while on campus. Please be on the lookout for our next weekly communication on March 19. Please remember that if you have any questions related to COVID-19 and our efforts to mitigate the pandemic on campus, please call the COVID-19 Hotline at 336.316.2319. We are all in this together.