App State COVID-19 Updates

Chancellor Sheri Everts and the university’s COVID-19 response team continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation, and remain in regular contact with state and local public health agencies as well as UNC System leadership.

Chancellor Everts’ March 25 update to campus shared her address to the Board of Trustees, as well as information about the new Innovation District. COVID-19-specific information included:

• Today marks the 800th day since the university first began planning, preparing and responding to COVID-19.
  
  
• Over the last two years, the university has donated nearly 20,000 meals for university and local community members who were in isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19.
  
  
• App state has conducted more than 93,000 COVID-19 tests — free to the individual —  for students, faculty and staff; and administered more than 7,000 vaccines to students, employees and community members.
  
  
• We held our first COVID-19 immunization clinics last spring, and by January of this year, 90% of App State employees and more than 81% of students were fully vaccinated.
  
  
• App State’s approach is in alignment with guidance from the federal, state and local levels: People may choose to wear a face covering at any time, and those with symptoms, a positive test or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a face covering.
  
  
• Vaccines continue to be the most important and effective tool we have to mitigate serious risk.
  
  
• The university continues to offer vaccines, testing and face coverings free of charge to students, faculty and staff.

COVID-19 information and reminders:

Starting March 23, NCDHHS began updating key metrics each Wednesday on its COVID-19 Dashboard using seven new indicators: cases, wastewater testing, hospital admissions, prevalence of variants and covid-like illnesses, booster rates and CDC’s COVID-19 Community Level Metric.

As of Friday, March 25, Watauga County is listed as low on CDC's COVID-19 Community Levels metric, with these recommended mitigation measures:

• Stay up-to-date with vaccinations.
  
  
• Extra precautions for those at high risk for severe disease.
  
  
• Follow CDC guidance for isolation and get tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms. Use CDC’s new Quarantine and Isolation calculator to help determine how long you need to isolate or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.

App State community standards

Continue to follow these steps and encourage others to follow them to keep our community healthy and safe:

1. Get vaccinated and boosted to stay up-to-date. Students and employees can still receive a $50 Amazon gift card from Student Health Service for each primary or booster vaccine dose.
   
   
2. If you feel sick, stay home and get tested as soon as possible. Remember: free, on-campus, walk-in testing clinics continue weekly for students and employees who would like a test for any reason.
   
   
3. If you test positive, self-isolate and follow CDC’s isolation guidelines.
   
   
4. Continue to practice good personal hygiene.
   
   
5. Wear face coverings — as required by federal and state guidelines — on public transportation, such as AppalCART and in healthcare settings.
   
   

Keep submitting the following to the university:
Vaccination records • Positive COVID-19 tests collected off campus • Self report illness/exposure • Care and concern reports for concerns about others

Campus health and wellness resources:

Remember, face coverings continue to be required in healthcare settings — bring one with you to any healthcare appointments, screenings or events, such as the following:

• On-campus blood drives: The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership will host a blood drive on March 31 from 9 a.m -7 p.m. at Holmes Convocation Center. Students and employees can check their eligibility and register online. 
  
  
• Mobile mammograms: Novant Health Breast Center’s Mobile 3D Mammogram Unit will be on campus April 25-27 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Varsity Gym. Employees can call Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff at 828-262-6314 to schedule an appointment.
  
  
• Blood screenings: Health Promotions for Faculty and Staff offers periodic, low-cost blood chemistry panels for employees, spouses/domestic partners and retirees. Visit their Preventative Care page for information, upcoming dates and to make an appointment. 

Additional health and wellness resources:
Counseling Center • Counseling for Faculty and Staff • Employee Assistance Program • Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff • Mountaineer Food Hub & Free Store • Student Health Service • University Recreation • Wellness and Prevention Services

Additional COVID-19 information:

Visit the App State coronavirus website for the latest updates. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Email ucinfo@appstate.edu or call 828-262-2000 for assistance.

The university’s COVID-19 response team continues to respond to every report submitted as quickly as possible and prioritizes outreach to individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.

• Students: Emergency Management will contact you to provide additional information. Questions? Contact safety@appstate.edu or call 828-262-4008.
  
  
• Faculty and staff: the Office of Human Resources will work with employees and supervisors. Questions? Contact millerad@appstate.edu or 828-262-3187.
  
  

App State COVID-19 resources: 
Latest Updates • COVID-19 Vaccines • COVID-19 Testing and Reporting • Isolation and Exposure • Health and Safety • COVID-19 Dashboard

Additional COVID-19 resources:
COVID-19 Testing at AppHealthCare • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record • North Carolina’s COVID-19 Information Hub