WVU Today
West Virginia University will extend requirements for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask indoors in all WVU System buildings and facilities through Oct. 20, when public health conditions will be reevaluated.
The announcement is an extension of requirements put in place in September, which were set to be reevaluated early this month.
Positive cases and quarantine instances involving WVU employees and students remain low when compared with COVID-19 cases across West Virginia, including a continued high rate of hospitalizations in the Morgantown area and throughout the state.
Nearly 75% of employees and almost 79% of students on the Morgantown campus have verified they are fully vaccinated; those rates continue to increase.
“We want to continue to be a good community partner to help further prevent the spread of the Delta variant, and keeping these indoor mask requirements in place is the right decision given we have not yet seen a substantial decrease in hospitalization rates,” said Dr. Jeffrey Coben, dean of the School of Public Health and associate vice president for Health Affairs. “This move will also allow for the adequate assessment of the COVID-19 status on our campuses following the university’s fall break (Thursday-Friday).”
Everyone entering campus buildings and facilities — including any classroom, lab or venue being used as a classroom — must wear a mask properly above the nose and keep it on while inside. Members of the WVU community do not need to wear a mask indoors when in personal office spaces, in personal vehicles, when eating or drinking, or while engaging in fitness activities. For individuals who are fully vaccinated, masks are also not required in meetings of 10 or fewer people, or on residence hall floors and rooms.
Masks continue to be required on the PRT and WVU buses through Jan. 18, under federal guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration.
Employees and students who are not properly following health protocols and requirements may receive disciplinary action through Student Conduct or Talent & Culture.
Vaccine clinic and testing opportunities
WVU strongly encourages everyone to be vaccinated and for students and employees to verify their vaccine status at http://myhousing.wvu.edu.
In partnership with the Monongalia County Health Department, WVU continues to host weekly COVID-19 vaccination clinics on campus from 1-3 p.m. Fridays in the lower gym of the Student Recreation Center.
No appointment is necessary. Free parking is available in lot ST-4.
At this time, the clinics only will offer the Pfizer vaccine. Those who are interested in receiving a vaccine may visit a clinic during operating hours.
Vaccines will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. First and second doses as well as booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine will be available at the clinic. Children 12 to 17 are eligible to receive a vaccine at the clinic if they are accompanied by a legal guardian.
In addition to the weekly vaccination clinics, WVU Medicine Student Health has the Pfizer vaccine available for WVU students at its clinic in the Health and Education Building. Walk-in appointments are offered during regular business hours — from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
The Monongalia County Health Department also is offering free vaccinations by appointment on most days at its facility at 453 Van Voorhis Road. Anyone who wishes to be vaccinated can call the Monongalia County Health Department at 304-598-5119 to schedule an appointment.
Other vaccination opportunities can be found at vaccines.gov.
The university is partnering with the Monongalia County Health Department to hold community testing on campus.
Free COVID-19 testing is available at the Student Recreation Center:
- Mondays — 8 a.m.-noon
- Tuesdays — noon-4 p.m.
- Wednesdays — noon-4 p.m.
- Thursdays — 8 a.m.-noon
- Fridays — 8 a.m.-noon
Community testing is open to WVU students, employees and residents of Monongalia County. No appointment is required.
Stay informed
COVID-19 updates are available through WVU’s public dashboard on the Return to Campus website, which features daily testing information updated by 2 p.m., as well as vaccination verification rates, isolation and quarantine data updated by 2 p.m. Wednesdays.
Visit the Return to Campus website for more information and the latest COVID-19 updates. Contact covidvaccine@mail.wvu.edu or returntocampus@mail.wvu.edu with any questions.
TWEET @DominionPostWV
