Public Health update: Jan. 18, 2022
The following message was shared with the OHIO community on Jan. 18, 2022.
Dear OHIO community members,
I hope the snow is providing everyone opportunities to have fun with friends outdoors – the safest place for activities during this COVID-19 surge. As week two begins on our campuses the virus continues to spread rapidly, reflected in statewide numbers as well as in each county that hosts an OHIO campus.
Among our OHIO community alone, COVID Operations has managed approximately 3,200 cases of COVID-19 since New Year’s Day. It’s important to note that approximately 2,200 of those cases were identified at home during winter break. I’d like to thank all the students who tested while at home during break – identifying infections before we returned to campus helped protect us all.
Students who continue to complete required tests here on campus are helping us curb spread, too. If you are on the Athens campus and did not complete your required pre-semester COVID-19 test, please schedule and complete a test by Friday to remain in compliance with this request. Every case we identify is another opportunity curb spread of this disease and minimize disruption to campus activities.
Although regional campus students were not required to test before Spring Semester, we strongly encourage them to pick up an at-home test on their campus as often as they choose so they can prevent spreading COVID-19 in their communities.
Faculty and staff, too, on all campuses are encouraged to test regularly to help catch asymptomatic infections.
Resuming campus activities after COVID-19 exposure
Knowing what to do if you have been exposed to COVID-19 can be confusing, especially when the guidance changes. As the virus evolves and science advances, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) update guidance and OHIO must in turn adjust policy. We appreciate your patience and support as we navigate these changing guidelines.
If you are exposed to COVID-19, whether you must quarantine in the first place and whether you must wait for test results before resuming campus activities depends on whether you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations and if you have had a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 90 days. These distinctions are based on guidelines from the CDC and ODH. Visit the OHIO COVID-19 Protocol page for specifics on what constitutes a COVID-19 exposure and details on how to quarantine if you are exposed.
Layering infection prevention measures
I can’t stress enough how important it is to layer infection prevention measures to keep yourself and our campus communities as safe as possible. Layering the following protective measures consistently will protect you and help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our communities:
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations -- a highly protective first layer. Clinics are available on the Athens campus every Friday this month, or you can schedule an appointment anywhere in Ohio. Get details.
- Test regularly so you can identify an asymptomatic infection and isolate before you spread it.
- Wear a quality mask. Here’s where to get one on OHIO campuses.
- Avoid large gatherings. Review these tips for gathering safely if you must attend or host an event.
- Assess your health daily and stay home if you don’t feel well.
Our goal is to keep going with as little disruption as possible. We want students in class and spending time with each other. Taking these actions for our own health and for the health of those around us allows us to stay in the classroom and learn together.
It helps me to remember that this surge won’t last forever, and that when conditions improve, we will again evaluate campus safety and adjust our public health measures accordingly. Areas of the U.S. that were hit with omicron first are seeing hopeful signs that the surge is beginning its fall. Thank you for helping our campuses withstand this challenge.
Dr. Gillian Ice
Special Assistant to the President for Public Health Operations