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 March 21, NSU had 18 active cases of COVID-19 among undergraduate students on campus and an additional 10 cases off campus, bringing the total number of active cases for undergraduate students to 28. Additionally, 19 students were under on-campus quarantines. For more information regarding campus COVID-19 statistics, visit the dashboard on the dedicated COVID-19 website.
On March 19, an email was sent to all NSU students, staff and faculty from the Office of the President announcing that the university will begin its first wave of vaccine distribution. The message stated that “while it has taken longer than we had hoped, we are pleased to share with you that NSU has signed an agreement with the Broward County Department of Health for COVID-19 vaccine Point of Administration (POA).”
According to the email, at this point in time, this only pertains to the main Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus and the vaccines will be available to “NSU health care workers and our NSU health care students with direct patient contact.” However, the university plans to continue to work with public health officials to expand this rollout if possible.
This news follows updated CDC guidelines regarding recommendations for vaccinated individuals, including changes with indoor mask-wearing requirements with other fully vaccinated (having received all required doses of a vaccine two or more weeks ago) persons and more. For official CDC recommendations, visit their updated webpage here, or go to www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html.
Beth Welmaker, the executive director of environmental health and safety for NSU, stated that the university is aware of these updates and is determining how this may be reflected in university-specific guidelines moving forward.
“We all look forward to the day when no one needs to wear a mask. What we know right now is the vaccine is looking to be 100% effective for keeping those vaccinated out of the hospital. It is not 100% effective in preventing those who have been vaccinated from getting the COVID-19 disease. Approximately 20% of those who have been vaccinated will get COVID-19. Until further notice, NSU will continue to make wearing a face covering mandatory for all NSU locations, but we do seek to actively follow CDC guidance as much as possible — so that could change, but at this time, mandatory mask-wearing is still in play,” 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.
