Fall 2021: Stay Vigilant. Be Resilient.

As the university continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation, please be sure to carefully and regularly review messages from App State.

In her Oct. 8 message to campus, Chancellor Sheri Everts shared the latest campus data, and shared that the university has seen a 25% increase in verified, student vaccine card submission since Aug. 23, when we first reported vaccination rates for the semester.

The COVID-19 vaccine remains our best defense against the virus, including the Delta variant, and the university continues to strongly encourage all students and employees to get fully vaccinated. An Oct. 5 report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services linked vaccination to a reduction of over a quarter million COVID-19 cases, 100,000 hospitalizations and 39,000 deaths among seniors.

Keep reading for full details on COVID-19-related updates and information.

Resources:
App State's Coronavirus site • App State’s Fall 2021 Guide to Campus Operations • North Carolina’s COVID-19 Information Hub

Vax Up for Flu and COVID-19

CDC and NCDHHS are urging everyone to get vaccinated against the flu as well as COVID-19. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time. Consult your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about these vaccines.

Get a flu vaccine!

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine — review CDC flu vaccine guidance and NCDHHS flu vaccine guidance.

• Students: Student Health Service and Wellness and Prevention Services will host on-campus student flu shot clinics on Oct. 14 and 18. Bring your AppCard and proof of insurance. No appointments needed.
  
  
• Faculty and staff: Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff will host an on-campus flu shot clinic for employees, retirees and spouses on Friday, Oct. 22 as part of their Employee Health and Wellness Fair. Appointments are required — bring your AppCard, photo ID and proof of insurance.

Get a COVID-19 vaccine!

COVID-19 vaccines are safe and continue to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19-related hospitalizations and deaths, especially illness related to the highly contagious Delta variant.

• App State’s Student Health Service provides vaccines (as well as additional doses and booster shots for eligible individuals) to students, faculty and staff — call 828-262-3100 for an appointment. Additional information, including about other vaccine providers, is available on App State's COVID-19 Vaccines page.

COVID-19 Vaccine data

• As of Oct. 7, CDC’s COVID Data Tracker reports that more than 186 million Americans, or about 56%, have been fully vaccinated — 65% of Americans have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
  
  
• As of Oct. 8, North Carolina has administered more than 11.2 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Of the state’s adult population, 65% has been fully vaccinated, and 54% of the state’s total population has been fully vaccinated. 

Flu vaccine resources:
Flu vaccine guidance (CDC) • FAQ Flu Questions: 2021-22 Season (CDC) • Flu vaccine guidance (NCDHHS)

COVID-19 vaccine resources: 
COVID-19 Vaccines • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record (NCDHHS) • Vaccines for COVID-19 (CDC) • COVID-19 Vaccine Information (NCDHHS) • Who Is Eligible for a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot? (CDC) • COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Additional Doses (NCDHHS)

COVID-19 data: 
App State COVID-19 Dashboard • AppHealthCare COVID-19 dashboard • COVID-19 vaccines dashboard (NCDHHS) • COVID Data Tracker (CDC)

Tired of Getting Required Weekly COVID-19 Tests?

Students and employees who are unvaccinated or who have not yet uploaded their vaccine status must submit a laboratory-verified COVID-19 test each Friday by 5 p.m. — home test kits are not accepted.  

• If you are tired of getting weekly COVID-19 tests, get vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit your fully vaccinated status to the university.
  
  
• If you are fully vaccinated but have not submitted your vaccine status, submit your vaccine status now to be exempted from the weekly testing requirement.
  
  
• If you lose your vaccination card or need a digital copy: View, download or print your vaccine record if you were vaccinated by a North Carolina provider and provided your email address.

What if I have symptoms and want a COVID-19 test?

Remember: Get tested for COVID-19 if you exhibit symptoms, even if you are fully vaccinated.

• App State continues to hold on-campus COVID-19 testing clinics each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, inside Legends from noon-4 p.m. for students and employees who would like a COVID-19 test for any reason. Bring your AppCard and have your Banner ID ready. 
  
  
• How to find your Banner ID via desktop and mobile:
• Visit AppalNet and select the icon to log into self-service.
• Click on the personal information tab, and then select the option to display your Banner ID.
  
  
• Getting tested on campus fulfills the weekly COVID-19 testing requirement for unvaccinated students and employees and your test results are automatically provided to the university.
  
  
• If you get tested off campus, submit your test results, regardless of your vaccine status.

Resources: 
COVID-19 Testing • Submit Your COVID-19 Test Results • COVID-19 Vaccines • Get your COVID-19 vaccination record (NCDHHS)

Required Reporting, Positive Tests and Quarantine/Isolation

Report COVID-19 tests, results, exposures and quarantine or isolation orders

Students and employees are required to self-report:

• Known COVID-19 exposures, regardless of vaccination status.
  
  
• If they have been instructed to quarantine or isolate by public health. 
  
  
• Off-campus COVID-19 tests and results, whether positive or negative, regardless of vaccination status. (On-campus test results are automatically provided to the university.) Learn more about what happens when someone tests positive.

Care and Concern Reporting

• Concerned about a student or co-worker? Submit a care and concern report.
  
  
• Learn more about what to do if you have concerns about someone who is not complying with COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
  
  
• All reported information will remain confidential. 

What happens when you submit test results?

The university monitors all test submissions each week — from on-campus testing clinics and those submitted from off-campus locations. Remember: If you get tested at an on-campus testing clinic, your results are automatically provided to the university — you DO NOT need to submit these test results.

• EHS&EM works closely with the Division of Student Affairs and Office of Human Resources to ensure policy compliance.
  
  
• Noncompliant students and employees are contacted by the university directly with instructions.
  
  
• The Office of Student Conduct’s COVID-19 FAQ page outlines campus requirements and expectations for students, including educational sanctions for noncompliance. It also includes guidance information for faculty and staff.

In the event of a positive COVID-19 test

If you get tested off campus and the results are positive, self-isolate, do not come to campus and self-report test results.

• App State, in partnership with local public health, will conduct contact tracing and follow up with you about your symptoms. 
  
  
• Guidance for vaccinated persons will likely differ from guidance for unvaccinated persons, especially if the vaccinated person is not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
  
  
• The university’s contact tracing team will also reach out to your known close contacts and provide them with instructions. Unvaccinated close contacts will be required to quarantine.
  
  
• In the event of a positive test, only close contacts of those who have tested positive will be notified. If you are in a class with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, that does not necessarily mean you are a close contact.

Resources: 
Reporting COVID-19 Cases • COVID-19 Testing • Submit Your COVID-19 Test Results

Campus Operations

• As a reminder, fall break is Oct. 11-12. Review CDC’s travel guidance if you plan to travel, and self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms:
  
  
• Vaccinated — get tested if you develop symptoms or 3-5 days after an exposure, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
  
  
• Unvaccinated — get tested as a precaution and quarantine for 14 days after an exposure.
  
  
• Campus Dining will operate an amended schedule Oct. 8-12 for fall break — regular operating hours resume Oct. 13.
  
  
• University Recreation will adjust its facilities schedule Oct. 8-12 for fall break — regular fall facility hours resume Oct. 13.
  
  
• Reminder: Zoom recently announced it will no longer support earlier versions of its client, and have implemented a new 9-month release window policy. Upgrade Zoom to the latest version before Nov. 1 to avoid disruptions — visit Zoom Support to upgrade to the latest version now.

Campus Support Resources for Students

As we reach the midpoint of the semester, please reach out if you or someone you know needs assistance. There are many people at the university who are here to help you. If you aren’t sure who to ask, here’s where you can start:

• Mental health and wellness resources.
• Academic support from App State’s Student Learning Center.
• Comprehensive support for students.

Additional Resources for Students: 
Academic Affairs • Office of the Dean of Students • Mountaineer Food Hub & Free Store

Additional Information

Please remember the global pandemic is dynamic, and continues to be a rapidly developing situation. Continue to read your App State email regularly — the latest information is also posted to App State’s Coronavirus site.

• The university will adjust COVID-19 safety protocols, procedure and policy according to the latest federal, state, local and UNC System guidance. 
  
  
• Following CDC guidance, App State will use county-based community spread data to determine when requirements can be lessened or lifted.  

Additional resources:
Latest Updates • Face Coverings • COVID-19 Vaccines • Reporting COVID-19 Cases • COVID-19 Testing