COVID-19 Update - March 26, 2020

For the most recent campus messages, please visit our Coronavirus news center.

26 March 2020

Valdosta State University has been notified of the following situation related to COVID-19 that we wanted to make you aware of out of an abundance of caution:

A staff member and a faculty member have reported a positive COVID-19 test. The staff member was last on campus March 18, 2020. The faculty member was last reported on campus March 11, 2020. The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) will follow its protocol in contacting people with whom these individuals have been in contact as appropriate.

Both employees are home, and we wish both employees a speedy recovery.

The overall risk of COVID-19 to students, faculty, and staff at VSU remains low. Health officials are taking precautionary measures to quickly identify cases of COVID-19, taking appropriate public health action to reduce its spread, and protect the general public in identifying potential contacts. 

As a reminder, VSU has canceled all on-campus instruction and events through the end of the spring semester.

For members of the VSU community, the best prevention measures for any respiratory virus, including COVID-19, are:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

While we understand the concerns and fear around COVID-19, it is extremely important to stay calm and maintain a close eye on your health and any symptoms that may arise. The symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Most cases of COVID-19 are mild with symptoms similar to a cold.

In addition, if you have recently traveled to areas where there are ongoing outbreaks of COVID-19 and develop a fever with cough and shortness of breath within 14 days of your travel, or if you have had contact with someone who is suspected to have COVID-19, stay home and call your healthcare provider or local health department right away. Be sure to call before going to a doctor’s office, emergency room, or urgent care center and tell them about your recent travel and your symptoms.

For accurate and reliable information about COVID-19, log on to Georgia Department of Public Health or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We will provide further updates as more information becomes available. For more information about COVID-19, please visit our FAQ page  www.valdosta.edu/health-advisory/faq.php

REPORT HEALTH CONCERNS

Key term: Close Contact - this is defined as being within six (6) feet of an individual for more than 15 minutes regardless of whether a face covering is worn.  

EMPLOYEES DO NOT come on campus if you believe you have been in close contact with a person having COVID or yourself having symptoms or receiving a positive diagnosis. Instead, notify your supervisor of your absence, seek medical services from your primary care provider, and self-report your information by completing the online form or contacting HR directly at 229-333-5709. 

STUDENTS DO NOT come on campus nor go directly to the Student Health Center if you believe you have been exposed to COVID. Instead, call the Health Services at 229-333-5886 to speak with a triage nurse over the phone. Additional guidance will be provided on how to access the health center facility. The health center remains open for walk-in patients with non-COVID medical needs. 

Members of the campus community should report all instances of close contact with a person having COVID or themselves receiving a positive diagnosis of COVID.  To assist with reporting, a COVID Self Reporting link has been added within MyVSU.  

 

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If you have been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine, you should do so at your permanent home for the period given unless it should be extended due to remaining symptoms. 

Report a Social Distance Concern