Coronavirus Update

Please refer to the COVID-19 dashboard at the top of our COVID-19 webpage for updated case numbers and helpful information. The numbers are updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and are based on laboratory-verified test results reported to the Bloomsburg University Student Health Center or Office of Workplace Safety. 

Updated Mask Mandate Information

In response to the rise of positive COVID cases in our region and the state (according to the PA Department of Health), BU reinstituted its indoor masking mandate for campus. We’re doing so to limit the transmission of the virus within our community and preserve our ability to offer an in-person teaching and learning experience throughout the fall semester.

The updated campus policy requires all vaccinated and unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors to wear masks (face shields are acceptable as long as they cover the mouth and nose) indoors. This requirement applies to:

• In-person instruction (all indoor classrooms and/or instructional spaces);
• In-person indoor events;  
• Any community member traveling between classes within common areas of a University building;  
• Any community member in common areas within University-owned on-campus housing; and 
• Any community member using the campus shuttles. 
   

Lecturing faculty who are seeking a face shield should email: stsafety@bloomu.edu

Mask wearing is not required in outdoor spaces throughout campus, but some may choose to mask up on their own. Students living in residence halls will not be required to wear a mask in their living spaces. All community members who are eating in designated food service areas indoors will not be required to wear a mask. Lastly, vaccinated employees with individual offices will not be required to wear a mask in their office.

Anyone with a COVID related question should email: COVIDsafety@bloomu.edu

Dispose of Masks Properly

Keep the campus clean and your fellow Huskies safe by properly disposing of your masks when you are finished with them. Leaving them on the ground is unsightly and unhealthy.

COVID Vaccine  

If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine, please email a copy of your vaccine card to the Student Health Center email address sthlhctr@bloomu.edu or call them at 570-389-4451. 

Students who present their COVID-19 vaccine documentation by Friday, Sept. 24, will be entered in a random drawing for:

• Two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 to two students (one to a new student, the other to a returning student); and   
• Ten scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to ten students (five to new students, the other five to returning students). 

Additionally, Healthy Husky will be giving away $25 Husky Gold prizes to 28 students. Sponsored by Healthy Husky, BU’s Health and Wellness initiative and funded through a grant from the Campus COVID-19 Vaccine (CoVAC) initiative, a project of the American College Health Association in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Husky Health Checker  

All members of the BU community (faculty/staff/students) are encouraged to monitor their health each day by utilizing the Husky Health Checker survey. Upon completion of the survey, retain the badge on your mobile device by leaving your browser tab open or taking a screenshot, or on your computer by printing it or taking a picture of your screen using your mobile device. 

Please refer to the COVID-19 dashboard at the top of our COVID-19 webpage for updated case numbers and helpful information. Case numbers are updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and are based on laboratory-verified test results reported to the Bloomsburg University Student Health Center or Office of Workplace Safety.

Updated Mask Mandate Information

In response to the rise of positive COVID cases in our region and the state (according to the PA Department of Health), BU reinstituted its indoor masking mandate for campus. We’re doing so to limit the transmission of the virus within our community and preserve our ability to offer an in-person teaching and learning experience throughout the fall semester.
 
The updated campus policy requires all vaccinated and unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors to wear masks (face shields are acceptable as long as they cover the mouth and nose) indoors. This requirement applies to:

•    In-person instruction (all indoor classrooms and/or instructional spaces);
•    In-person indoor events;  
•    Any community member traveling between classes within common areas of a University building;  
•    Any community member in common areas within University-owned on-campus housing; and
•    Any community member using the campus shuttles.
 
Lecturing faculty who are seeking a face shield should email: stsafety@bloomu.edu
 
Mask wearing is not required in outdoor spaces throughout campus, but some may choose to mask up on their own. Students living in residence halls will not be required to wear a mask in their living spaces. All community members who are eating in designated food service areas indoors will not be required to wear a mask. Lastly, vaccinated employees with individual offices will not be required to wear a mask in their office.  
 
Again, BU is mandating this indoor masking policy in the best interest of every campus community member’s health, and so that we may conclude the semester as we begin it: in-person. The health and safety of our entire campus community remains our highest priority.  
 
Anyone with a COVID related question should email: COVIDsafety@bloomu.edu.  

COVID Vaccine  

Students can sign up for the free vaccination offered at the Fenstemaker Alumni House through Sunday, Aug. 22. Please follow the registration link on the Student Health Center web page.
 
If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine, please email a copy of your vaccine card to the Student Health Center email address sthlhctr@bloomu.edu or call them at 570-389-4451.
 
In addition to reducing your risk of severe disease if you contract COVID-19, being vaccinated will give you these additional benefits (in accordance with state and national guidelines):
1.      You will not need to quarantine for 14 days if you are exposed but are not sick/symptomatic.
2.      You will not need to participate in the on-campus student return to campus and ongoing surveillance testing programs.
 
Students who present their COVID-19 vaccine documentation by Friday, Sept. 24, will be entered in a random drawing for:
•    Two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 to two students (one to a new student, the other to a returning student); and   
•    Ten scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to ten students (five to new students, the other five to returning students).

Husky Health Checker  

All members of the BU community (faculty/staff/students) are encouraged to monitor their health each day by utilizing the Husky Health Checker survey. Upon completion of the survey, retain the badge on your mobile device by leaving your browser tab open or taking a screenshot, or on your computer by printing it or taking a picture of your screen using your mobile device.

COVID Concerns

Do you have COVID concerns or questions?

What to do if you have been exposed or have COVID symptoms

Indoor Mask Mandate

BU has reinstituted its indoor masking mandate for campus. The updated campus policy requires all vaccinated and unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors to wear masks (face shields are acceptable as long as they cover the mouth and nose) indoors.  
 
This requirement applies to:

• In-person instruction (all indoor classrooms and/or instructional spaces);
• In-person indoor events;  
• Any community member traveling between classes within common areas of a University building;  
• Any community member in common areas within University-owned on-campus housing; and 
• Any community member using the campus shuttles. 
   

Lecturing faculty who are seeking a face shield should email: stsafety@bloomu.edu

Mask wearing is not required in outdoor spaces throughout campus, but some may choose to mask up on their own. Students living in residence halls will not be required to wear a mask in their living spaces. All community members who are eating in designated food service areas indoors will not be required to wear a mask. Lastly, vaccinated employees with individual offices will not be required to wear a mask in their office.

Anyone with a COVID related question should email: COVIDsafety@bloomu.edu

Dispose of Masks Properly

Keep the campus clean and your fellow Huskies safe by properly disposing of your masks when you are finished with them. Leaving them on the ground is unsightly and unhealthy.

COVID Vaccine Scholarship Drawing Deadline Approaching

If you have already received your COVID-19 vaccine, please call the Student Health Center at 570-389-4451. 

Students who present their COVID-19 vaccine documentation by Friday, Sept. 24, will be entered in a random drawing for:

• Two scholarships in the amount of $5,000 to two students (one to a new student, the other to a returning student); and   
• Ten scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to ten students (five to new students, the other five to returning students). 

Additionally, Healthy Husky will be giving away $25 Husky Gold prizes to 28 students. Sponsored by Healthy Husky, BU’s Health and Wellness initiative and funded through a grant from the Campus COVID-19 Vaccine (CoVAC) initiative, a project of the American College Health Association in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Husky Health Checker  

All members of the BU community (faculty/staff/students) are encouraged to monitor their health each day by utilizing the Husky Health Checker survey. Upon completion of the survey, retain the badge on your mobile device by leaving your browser tab open or taking a screenshot, or on your computer by printing it or taking a picture of your screen using your mobile device. 

Dear Members of the BU Campus Community,

In response to the rise of positive COVID cases in our region and the state, Bloomsburg University is instituting an updated indoor masking mandate for campus, effective Saturday, August 14. We are instituting this requirement to limit the transmission of the virus within our community and preserve our ability to offer an in-person teaching and learning experience throughout the fall semester.

The updated campus policy requires all vaccinated and unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors to wear masks indoors. This requirement applies to:

•    In-person instruction (all indoor classrooms and/or instructional spaces);
•    In-person indoor events;
•    Any community member traveling between classes within common areas of a University building;
•    Any community member in common areas within University-owned on-campus housing; and
•    Any community member using the student recreation center and campus shuttles.

Mask wearing is not required in outdoor spaces throughout campus, but some may choose to mask up on their own. Students living in residence halls will not be required to wear a mask in their living spaces. All community members who are eating in designated food service areas indoors will not be required to wear a mask. Lastly, vaccinated employees with individual offices will not be required to wear a mask in their office.

Again, BU is mandating this indoor masking policy in the best interest of every campus community member’s health, and so that we may conclude the semester as we begin it: in-person. The health and safety of our entire campus community remains our highest priority.

We will continue to monitor circumstances on our campus and within our community/county, and will advise you of any updates as these circumstances change. We will continue to update our COVID Dashboard webpage three times weekly and will include on this page any new campus-wide messages communicated by email.

As we work together to keep one another safe, we thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have questions, please contact our Human Resources Office via HR Connect (Employees) or our Dean of Students Office (Students).

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

As we near the start of the fall semester, our focus is on returning to a fully operational campus with face-to-face instruction. Considering the spread rate of the Delta variant, we are providing the following guidance for the campus community.

•    We strongly encourage all members of the campus community to vaccinate. The vaccine remains the most reliable method to keep our campus safe and maintain face-to-face instruction.

•    Monitor the rate of COVID-19 on campus. We will pivot to remote instruction if 5% of our campus community has COVID at one time, which amounts to roughly 400 active cases. We would remain remote for a minimum of two weeks and continue remote until the live cases fell below 400. This is to halt the spread of the virus and to protect our community. Again, vaccinations will prevent the need to pivot due to an outbreak of COVID. You can track cases on campus here: https://www.bloomu.edu/coronavirus.

•    Maintain COVID cleaning mitigation, including providing sanitation stations, fogging classrooms, and regular cleaning of high-touch areas throughout campus.

•    Provide masks to the campus community. A free mask will be available to all members of the campus community who want one. Face shields are also available for faculty and those needing alternatives to a face mask.

•    Masks will be strongly recommended required as of Aug. 14 in classrooms and all indoor areas as we are returning to pre-COVID capacity, and in all high occupancy or close quarters that prevent social distancing. This is due to the likely mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals and aligns with CDC guidance. 

•    The use of the student health center and campus transportation will require masks, without exception.

•    Students in clinical settings must follow the guidance of their setting. Academic departments and program faculty will communicate those expectations to students.

•    Baseline testing will be conducted for all students moving into the residence halls. Continued surveillance testing will occur as well for residential students. Vaccinated residential students will not be required to test upon proof of full vaccination. Guidance for submitting documentation has been provided to students in a separate communication.

•    And, as a reminder, if you are feeling any symptoms of COVID-19, please stay home. Students may get tested at the Fenstemaker Alumni House on campus. Faculty and staff should consult their local medical professional.

The campus community should be aware that recommendations may change based on future state or federal guidance. Together we can work toward keeping our campus safe, maintaining face-to-face instruction, and having an enjoyable fall semester.
Onward!

In response to the rise of positive COVID cases in our region and the state, Bloomsburg University is instituting an updated indoor masking mandate for campus, effective Saturday, August 14. There is no change to course delivery or access to services on campus. This indoor mask mandate is in effect to help curb the spread of the COVID virus so that we can remain in person for the duration of the fall semester.
The updated campus policy requires all vaccinated and unvaccinated students, employees, and visitors to wear masks indoors. This requirement applies to:

• In-person instruction (all indoor classrooms and/or instructional spaces);
• In-person indoor events;
• Any community member traveling between classes within common areas of a University building;
• Any community member in common areas within University-owned on-campus housing; and
• Any community member using the campus shuttles.

Mask wearing is not required in outdoor spaces throughout campus, but some may choose to mask up on their own. Vaccinated employees with individual offices will not be required to wear a mask in their office.

Again, BU is mandating this indoor masking policy in the best interest of every campus community member’s health and so that we may conclude the semester as we begin it: in-person. The health and safety of our entire campus community remains our highest priority.

On-campus Housing – Students in residence halls must follow masking guidance for public spaces, including hallways, lobbies, and study areas. No more than two guests per resident are permitted in individually assigned living spaces at this time.

Campus Dining Facilities – All personnel must wear masks when entering, circulating through, and exiting facilities. Spacing of tables and number of chairs at each must remain as set to ensure appropriate social distancing. Use of provided hand-to-common touch area barriers is encouraged.

Unvaccinated residential students will participate in surveillance testing. Resident students will be pre-tested previous to entry to the residence hall. Testing for any symptomatic students (regardless of housing location) will be provided through the Student Health Center. Off-campus students may choose to participate in surveillance testing, but their participation is not mandated.

BU has again contracted with EMS to administer testing to 400 students each week; 200 students will be tested each Tuesday and Wednesday. The Health Center staff will exclude students from testing if the student has provided proof of full vaccination or a prior COVID diagnosis.

As a service to the student community, BU will also contract with EMS to administer the Moderna, 2-dose vaccination. The second dose will be administered 4-weeks after the first vaccination. Full vaccination is considered complete two weeks after the second vaccination is administered. Based on this timeline, these students who become newly vaccinated after their arrival on campus will remain included in the surveillance testing program for at least six (6) weeks after the date of the first vaccination. Therefore, these students will be considered fully vaccinated by the week of October 4, 2021.

We will continue our symptomatic and close contact protocols that were enforced during the spring 2021 semester. Upon a positive test, a student will enter into a 10-14 day isolation period, depending on individual factors. Students who have had close contact will be placed into quarantine housing, where they will remain. Meals will be delivered, and regular check-ins by staff will occur. If a student is off-campus, regular check-ins will occur for those students. Students who test positive will also be required to enter the appropriate isolation period. Students will be asked to return home when the beds reserved for isolation or quarantine housing are filled. Students and their supporters should again plan for their return home should a positive case be identified. University faculty will work with students for any class time missed due to quarantine and/or isolation occurrence.

Athletics has been encouraging and tracking vaccinations per current NCAA guidance. Any unvaccinated student-athlete will need to be tested at the rate of 25-50% of the total team roster every one to two weeks, as the protocol from the NCAA outlines. This testing will also be conducted in partnership with the Student Health Center, third-party provider EMS, and the Athletic training staff.

All plexiglass barriers in classrooms and office areas remain in place. Established high-touch cleaning and classroom fogging procedures will continue. Hand sanitizer stations are distributed throughout campus at multiple locations within each building.

Procedures for Positive Cases of COVID-19

Bloomsburg University’s Student Health Center or Office of Workplace Safety will generally become aware of a positive case in one of four ways:

• Notification from the Columbia County Department of Health
• Notification from the PA Department of Health if the person is tested in another county within Pennsylvania
• Notification from the test site or vendor if the test was ordered through the Student Health Center
• Notification from the individual self-reporting

What happens to the individual who tests positive?

The individual will be required to isolate in accordance with County and PA Department of Health and CDC guidelines.

Students On-Campus

Students residing on-campus at Bloomsburg University who test positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to make the best choice for their personal health care to either go to their home of record for the duration of their quarantine or recovery or stay on campus. A limited number of isolated rooms are available on campus for the duration of a specified quarantine period. Residence Life conducts in-person checks twice daily, meals are delivered, and the Student Health Center and/or campus health personnel conduct a daily check-in to support the student’s health and welfare.

Students Off-Campus

If the student is living off-campus, they're encouraged to go to their home of record for the duration of their quarantine or recovery, or the student will isolate at their place of residence, in accordance with County and PA Department of Health and CDC guidelines. Dining Services will accept someone coming to the Scranton Commons or Monty's to pick up food for an off-campus quarantined student. The meal ID of the quarantined student must be presented so a member of the Scranton Commons staff can swipe it. Students can see the full menu on the dining services Instagram stories.

If students do not have a meal plan, they should also arrange for sustainment support such as food delivery, or they may choose to go to their home of record. Student Health Center and campus health personnel conduct a daily check-in to support the student’s health and welfare.

Employees

If the individual is a faculty or staff member, they will isolate at home or another location following their local or state health department and CDC guidelines.

What should I do if I think I was exposed to COVID?

Review the CDC guidance for people exposed to individuals with known or suspected COVID-19 or possible COVID-19. In addition, there is a CDC glossary of terms with definitions for: close contact, exposure, isolation, and quarantine.

Communication Protocol

In the interest of transparency, we are guided by the following:

• The COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with numbers of confirmed positive cases.
• To protect the confidentiality and privacy of affected individuals, Bloomsburg University will not disclose any personally identifiable information.
• The University will not send an email message to the campus community or notify the media every time there is a positive case confirmed.

* Students (as of Aug. 10, 2021) 0 — positives isolating on-campus 1 — positives isolating off-campus 0 — positives who have gone home 1 — Number out of isolation (students who have completed their required isolation)

* Employees (as of Aug. 10, 2021) 0 — positives isolating off-campus 2 — Number out of isolation (employees who have completed their required isolation)