COVID Campus Update
Posted May 21, 2021
May 21, 2021
Dear Campus Community,
Welcome to the summer semester!
CDC and Mask Guidance
SIUE is currently reviewing the newest CDC guidance related to mask wearing for vaccinated individuals. At this time, face masks continue to be required at SIUE indoors for all individuals and outdoors when social distancing is not able to be maintained. Additional guidance will be available early next week.
Link to the CDC guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html
Bridge Communication
On May 14, 2021, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that Illinois has moved to A Bridge to Phase 5. The Bridge establishes new capacity limits in some sectors including social events, meetings, Seated Spectator Events, and more. A comprehensive chart comparing Phase 4 capacities to those of the Bridge to Phase 5 is available at: https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/22961-A_Bridge_to_Phase_5.pdf
COVID Testing
Individuals are required to register with SHIELD Illinois to make an appointment and complete COVID-19 testing.
Visit https://forms.office.com/r/QvChjQs6tb, to create an account and obtain an appointment. No insurance is required, and testing is free. The surveillance screening tests are on a voluntary basis. If you have already been vaccinated or are in the process of completing your vaccine, CDC still recommends to get tested.
Summer Testing
During summer, testing will be conducted on the Edwardsville campus Monday-Wednesday, School of Dental Medicine on Monday and at The East St. Louis campus on Tuesday.
Surveillance Testing
Surveillance testing continues on all three campuses with 188 tested this week. With 0 positive tests, we had a positivity rate of 0%. More information can be found on the dashboard. As stated above, surveillance screening tests are on a voluntary basis. However, to encourage participation, employees and students are selected through a random sample and invited to be tested. Those invited next week will be provided with the following incentives to participate:
- Students
- $5 in Cougar Bucks
- Monthly raffle for parking hangtag FY22
- Faculty/Staff
- One beverage or bakery item (not to exceed $5) at the MUC Starbucks
- Monthly raffle for parking hangtag FY22
Individuals do not need to be invited to be tested. However, they will not be eligible for the incentives listed above.
Here are a few tips to get you in and out as efficiently as possible:
- Appointments should be obtained at https://forms.office.com/r/QvChjQs6tb
- Be sure that you are hydrated before your appointment by eating or drinking up to 60 minutes prior to your arrival at the testing site. Do not eat or drink in the 60 minutes prior to testing.
- Arrive at your appointment time, so that we may maintain small groups in the testing area.
Per CDC/IDPH guidelines, if you are experiencing symptoms or believe you are a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, do not participate in this surveillance testing. Employees and students who tested positive within the last 90 days should not test.
Finally, remember if you are feeling ill, don’t come to campus. If you are under quarantine or isolation, do not leave it early.
Please continue to practice grace with one another and with yourselves. We are proud to serve with you.
Keep cool this weekend as the sultry, summer weather settles in, best wishes,
Randy Pembrook, Chancellor
Denise Cobb, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Jessica Harris, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Rachel Stack, Vice Chancellor for Advancement
Morris Taylor, Vice Chancellor for Administration
Jeffrey Waple, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
