Between the Zoom calls, classroom capacities, limited gathering sizes and masks covering the faces of every Shark, it’s hard to miss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on NSU.
As of Jan. 18, there were two active cases of COVID-19 among undergraduate residential students and five cases for undergraduate, off-campus students. Four undergraduate students were in quarantine, three of which were residents and the other is off-campus. Additionally, in an email sent to NSU students, faculty and staff on Jan. 18, the university has implemented a new dashboard feature on the dedicated COVID-19 website. This dashboard gives users information regarding weekly reported cases by populations, such as undergraduate students, graduate & professional students, University School students and faculty & staff. For the week ending on Jan. 17, there were 32 reported cases among all populations, out of a total NSU population of 26,395 individuals.
Before the semester began, NSU implemented a policy wherein it was recommended that residential students get tested for free on campus. This was meant to provide a “‘snapshot in time’ for current, new and returning residential students as they move back into the NSU residential community,” according to a memo sent on behalf of Dr. Brad Williams, vice president for student affairs, last year. Of the 1,250 residential students that were tested, 22 reported positive COVID-19 results.
Beth Welmaker, the executive director of environmental health and safety for NSU, noted the successes NSU had last semester in regard to limiting the spread on campus and encouraged the continuation of safe practices into the new year.
“We did a really phenomenal job last semester. I think our students took it seriously and it’s easy to grow tired and weary of… wearing the face covering and maintaining the physical separation — it’s hard. We know it’s working and we can see the hope that the vaccine is bringing that we’re going to tackle and hopefully terminate this virus, but the need to remain vigilant has never been greater than now,” said Welmaker.
As far as offering vaccinations for the NSU community, there is currently not a definitive timeline. However, the university has been working on plans should the vaccines become available.
“There has been an exceptional, high-level focus on making vaccines accessible to faculty, students and staff at NSU. It’s been something that we’ve been working on even before the winter break, and Dr. Hanbury has been putting a lot of time and effort into those conversations with various partners and the governor’s office,” said Welmaker.
While Welmaker explained that NSU would like to be “part of the solution” in regards to fighting COVID-19 with vaccinations, it’s crucial to follow the health and safety procedures in place even after receiving a vaccine.
“There’s still a lot we need to better understand about how the vaccine will work and what it means to daily life after you’ve been vaccinated,” said Welmaker.
If a student is having any symptoms, they are advised to reach out to NSU’s Telehealth line at (954) 262-4100, where they will be connected to a physician who will review their symptoms and, if needed, schedule a COVID-19 test on campus. Additionally, students can email COVIDcase@nova.edu to provide updates on their symptoms and test results, even if the results are still pending, and to get assigned a COVID-19 case manager to oversee the situation and offer assistance, if necessary. Emailing COVIDcase will also immediately provide students with the Telehealth number, as well as links to employee and graduate/professional student report forms, the undergraduate student form and the form to report exposures. Students, staff and faculty can visit NSU’s dedicated website, www.nova.edu/coronavirus, for up to date information regarding COVID-19 at the university.
