COVID-19 Update: September 15, 2020

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
 
The COVID-19 Task Force and Epidemiological (Epi) Team have been very busy over the past few weeks. It appears that we have gotten over our initial surge and active transmission has leveled off on campus and in our community. The most reliable COVID-19 models project that we will continue to experience low-level, sustained transmission in Alabama. The same is likely to be true in Calhoun County.
 
From our peak of 219 active cases, we are now down to 30. As such, we’d like to thank you all for adhering to campus protocols for mask wearing, social distancing, and following good health and safety standards. To sustain this downward trend in the number of active cases, we need your continued attentiveness to campus protocols. 
 
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, report to the RMC/JSU Health Center during morning hours of operation for a medical assessment.

If you test positive for COVID-19:

  • Inform your instructors/supervisors.
  • If asymptomatic, enter self-isolation for 10 days from date of testing, or if symptomatic, enter self-isolation for 10 days from the beginning of symptoms.
  • Complete the Self-Reporting Form.
  • Once you submit a Self-Reporting Form, the Epi Team will contact you to collect more information and begin contact tracing.
  • Campus residents must also complete a Cocky Cares Support Form
  • Employees must submit an Emergency Sick Paid Leave Form/EFMLA Request Form

If you have been exposed to someone who tested positive

  • You should begin to self-quarantine for 10 days from the last date of exposure to the person who tested positive.
  • The 10 days of quarantine cannot be shortened by “testing negative” for COVID-19 during that two-week period.
  • Notify your professors/supervisors and covidquestions@jsu.edu.
  • Employees must submit an Emergency Sick Paid Leave Form/EFMLA Request Form.

If you begin experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, report to the RMC/JSU Health Center immediately for rapid testing. 

If we all continue to do our part, wear our masks, socially distance, and practice good hand hygiene, we can endure this pandemic and meet our academic goals.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeff Ryan
Dr. Oye Akisanya
Dr. Phyllis Waits
COVID-19 Task Force