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- Title:
- Jan. 15, 2021 | COVID-19 Testing Results Encouraging; Testing Appointments Available Tuesday
- Date:
- 2021-01-15
- Category:
- Presidential Memos
- Harvested from:
- https://perma.cc/H79Z-9K2U
- Type:
- text
- Digital Format:
- text/html
- Reference Link:
- https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/fridayletter/letters/president_memo_2021-01-15.html
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Jan. 15, 2021 | COVID-19 Testing Results Encouraging; Testing Appointments Available Tuesday
TO: University of Idaho Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Scott Green, President
Torrey Lawrence, Provost and Executive Vice President
DATE: Jan. 15, 2021
SUBJECT: COVID-19 Testing Results Encouraging; Testing Appointments Available Tuesday
It is great to have everyone back together again and classes underway. You are getting this on Friday rather than our usual Monday communication because we want to give each of you time to schedule a COVID-19 test on Tuesday, Jan. 19 — and Monday is an important university holiday honoring the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King.
We tested more than 5,000 people since Jan. 6, and our lab team worked tirelessly to process results quickly. We’ve also processed the requests for remote instruction overrides, verified test results from outside our testing system and verified vaccination cards. These efforts helped us get students in the classroom for in-person learning. The number of positive results are below 1.8%. These results indicate we followed the Healthy Vandal Pledge even when away from campus and classes. What we achieved is incredible and again proves that Vandals can realize any goal we set out to accomplish. Thank you for planning appropriately and taking the steps to keep our campus as healthy as possible. The weekly results will be posted on the U of I coronavirus website on Tuesday.
But we must remain vigilant.
Consider your activities as you head into the holiday weekend. Winter activities are in their prime now, and they are a great way to get out and be active with reduced risk of exposure to COVID-19. Follow the Healthy Vandal Pledge in all you do. Get tested no sooner than five days after any concern of exposure. Participate in surveillance testing. The more we test, the more accurately we can monitor and respond to the spread of COVID-19 on campus.
For our friends across the state, we recognize the virus remains a barrier to returning to the classroom and engaging in teaching, learning and research in ways we would like. Thank you for making these activities a priority and for continuing on, despite the challenges.
Vaccines continue to roll out across the state, and some in our Vandal Family have received them. At this time we do not plan to require vaccination, but it is highly recommended. Students who receive vaccination will be removed from the random surveillance testing and the required mid-semester re-test when documentation is provided.
Idaho remains in Stage 2 of the Idaho Rebounds plan. Most events on campus, including club events, will be limited to fewer than 10 in-person participants.
We are enthusiastic about the opportunities before us this spring. Knowing we can thrive and be successful amidst a pandemic is heartening. Enjoy the long weekend, and please keep the health of others in mind as you go about your activities.
Keep Calm and Vandal On.
Scott Green
President
president@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/president
Torrey Lawrence
Provost and Executive Vice President
provost@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/provost