COVID Update, Jan. 13, 2022

Dear Mavericks:

I hope you are doing well as we begin the spring semester. As many of you have seen, our region’s COVID-19 positivity rates have increased, as well as the number of positive cases reported by students and employees. This is not good news, and I wish it were different.

The reality is that we are not through the pandemic yet. All of us have worked hard to protect each other’s health and safety while ensuring the best instruction and experience possible for our students. As frustrating and difficult as this is, I am asking each of us to continue to do our best, adapt, and care for the health and well-being of our campus community.

Our task is to continue to provide the best educational experience for our students—both online and in-person. At the same time, we should continue our efforts to maintain our reduced campus density where it makes sense.

I am asking each of us to recommit to the mitigation measures that have worked well in the past. Please take the time to review all of the following items; I recognize this is a lengthy email, but it is critical that everyone be aware of the reminders and new information listed below.

Self-Screening

Please do not come to classes, events, activities, or work in-person if you feel sick (whether or not it is COVID). We ask that all faculty, staff, and students ask themselves the following screening questions:

Do you have a sore throat, different from your seasonal allergies? A sore throat seems to be an early indicator of the omicron variant.
Is your temperature 100℉ or higher today?
Have you had or felt like you have had a fever in the last 24 hours?
Do you have a new or worsening cough or runny nose?
Do you feel fatigued?
Are you having trouble breathing that cannot be explained by an existing condition, like asthma?
Do you have new or worsening body aches? Headache?
Are you experiencing a loss of taste or smell?
Are you experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea?
Have you had close contact with anyone suspected of having or confirmed to have COVID-19?
Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days or have reason to believe you have COVID-19?

Face Covering

Masks will continue to be required. They must cover both the nose and mouth in all public indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status. The CDC and MDH recommend a surgical mask, double masking, a KN95 or N95 respirator.

Hygiene

Handwashing: Use hand sanitizer or soap and warm water frequently and especially before eating or after using a restroom.

Respiratory etiquette: If you need to sneeze or cough, cover your mask with a tissue (or your elbow if no tissue is available), dispose of soiled mask and replace with another, use hand sanitizer or soap and warm water as soon as possible.

Reduce in-person events and meetings

Faculty members are strongly encouraged to reduce unnecessary in-class activities and interactions where possible for the first few weeks of classes. In addition, endeavor to adjust large, in-person meetings or events to hybrid/virtual meetings for the time being.

Cleaning Supplies & PPE

The University provides COVID 19 cleaning supplies and PPE, including medical grade/surgical masks, face shields, and more.

Testing

Exposure testing is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 pm - 4 pm in Carkoski Commons, or find a testing site near you. Visit a medical facility if you are seeking symptomatic testing;

Vaccinations

Vaccination clinics will be held on Thursday, January 20 from 1 pm – 4 pm and on Friday, January 21 from 9 am – 12 pm in the former dining hall of Carkoski Commons. First and second doses and booster shots of Pfizer and Moderna will be available.

Reminders

Report any positive COVID-19 cases to the Healthcare Hotline 507-389-2030.

Follow current MDH isolation and quarantine guidelines and accommodate/support individuals who need to isolate or quarantine.

Anyone who can get vaccinated and boosted should, as soon as they are eligible to do so. Unvaccinated people continue to have the worst outcomes from infection.

To stay up to date and for more information, please visit our COVID-19 website. With questions or concerns, please contact provost@mnsu.edu.

As always, thank you for everything you do for our students and our university.

Sincerely,

Edward S. Inch, Ph.D.

President