Weekly Testing Update – Dec. 23, 2020
Dear FSU Community,
Our test results from Monday, Dec. 21st, resulted in 1 positive out of 329 tests administered. Contact tracing began yesterday to identify and quarantine close contacts of the individual who tested positive. All of the latest data is now viewable on our COVID19 Dashboard.
We have reached the end of the semester and I am so grateful to our community for the care you have shown in following our safety protocols. Our positive test rate remained very low, even as cases around the state spiked and other colleges in Massachusetts were forced to send students home early due to outbreaks.
There are so many people to thank for making this possible, including members of our COVID19 Oversight Team, and our COVID19 Analytics Team. I’m especially grateful to Health Director Ilene Hofrenning and her staff at the Health Center, as well as the employees and volunteers who staffed our testing operation throughout the semester, and performed contact tracing.
We said it would take vigilance from the entire community to make it through the semester and you all stepped up to the challenge. Next semester is going to be equally challenging, so we will need the same level of compliance from everyone. Please remember to continue practicing good safety habits (masking, social distancing, hand hygiene) over the holiday break. A big part of keeping the community safe in the spring will be not bringing COVID back to campus when you return.
Our onboarding COVID testing will take place on Sunday, January 24th and Monday, January 25th. You can sign up for your COVID test now through Medicat. Classes begin January 25th. You should also submit your proof of receiving a flu vaccination through Medicat, the same way you uploaded you vaccination report at the start of the year. Any student who will be physically on campus for any reason must submit proof of vaccination per the Governors orders. Additional information about onboarding protocols with be forthcoming in early January.
I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday break.
Sincerely,
Javier