Dear Campus Community,
We appreciate everyone’s patience and care for each other as we continue to monitor the Omicron spike in Greenville County and its impact on our campus community. We are hopeful that as we reach the expected plateau and experience a decline in new COVID cases we will be able to adjust our guidance in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we ask students, faculty and staff to please stay the course.
COVID-19 dashboard
There were 15 positive student cases reported this past week by the Earle Student Health Center (ESHC), and 5 positive employee cases reported by Human Resources.
Thanks to your efforts, 85% of the student body is on record as vaccinated and boosted (if eligible), and we continue to receive updated booster records daily. We are grateful for your continued diligence in keeping our community healthy and safe.
The Furman Focused Dashboard was updated yesterday and will be updated each Monday and Thursday.
Masking reminder
As a reminder, we announced last week that masking continues to be required in ALL indoor locations on Furman’s campus at all times. This includes high-density areas such as the PAC’s fitness center/court, Trone Student Center, basketball games in Timmons Arena, and dining facilities. At the end of next week, we will re-evaluate campus and community conditions and make adjustments to our protocols as conditions allow.
Masks are not required in the following limited circumstances:
- When students are in their residential rooms/apartments on campus (though it is strongly recommended that students mask when not in their own assigned rooms/apartments);
- When actively eating or drinking in designated dining locations; or
- When a faculty or staff member is alone in their own office (it is recommended that you mask if the door is open).
Free at-home COVID-19 tests
Residential households in the U.S. may order one set of four free at-home rapid tests from USPS.com. The online order form is quick and easy, and orders have begun to ship. The most effective use of these kits is for those who are symptomatic. We do not recommend using them as a screening test. We do encourage students, faculty and staff to place an order as follows:
- Faculty and staff, place an order with your home address (one order per household).
- Students, place an order with your Furman address, but only one order per apartment or residence hall room. For example, only one resident in a North Village apartment should place an order, and then divvy up the kits among the group. Residence hall students should group up and designate a person to place the order. Let’s all be good stewards, as this service is not intended to provide one individual with four kits.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) is also offering free at-home rapid COVID tests (2 per customer) that may be picked up at the Greenville County Health Department located at 200 University Ridge in Greenville on a first-come, first-served basis (see https://scdhec.gov/covid19/covid-19-testing-locations for operating hours and contact information).
Positive rapid COVID-19 test results
Because PCR test results have been delayed locally and nationally, Furman is currently accepting positive rapid test results. If you receive a positive result from a rapid test, report that result to the Earle Student Health Center (students) or Human Resources (faculty and staff). If you are symptomatic but receive a negative result from a rapid test, please report your symptoms using the LiveSafe Health Survey.
On-campus COVID-19 testing managed by SC DHEC and open to all students, faculty, staff and the public, has been extended through March 19, operating daily from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday in the South Chapel Parking Lot. Delays in reporting experienced in the Greenville area in early January have largely been resolved, with turnaround times of 48-72 hours over the past week. Click here to pre-register for testing, as this will expedite the testing process.
We are closely monitoring the number of positive cases in our campus community to determine the appropriateness of any adjustments or contingencies. If you have any questions, please email furman.focused@furman.edu.
Have a fun, safe weekend!
Sincerely,
The COVID Response Committee