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 Feb. 21, there were two active cases of COVID-19 among undergraduate students at NSU, both on campus — although one student has not been residing in the residence halls within the past few weeks. Additionally, there were nine undergraduate students in quarantine, one of which lives within the residence halls.
According to the university’s case dashboard found on the dedicated COVID-19 website, as of Feb. 22, for the week ending on Feb. 21, there were 25 total cases reported for all NSU populations, five of which were undergraduate students, 16 among graduate and professional students, two for faculty and staff, and two in the NSU University School (PreK-12).
An email sent from Sharks Return on Feb. 16 detailed information regarding the newly released research from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about wearing more than one face covering, often known as “double masking.” This email shared tips such as using masks with wire nose-bridges, employing the “knot and tuck” technique for surgical masks, double masking and checking for gaps caused by ill-fitting masks.
While NSU will not be altering their formal guidelines to require double masking or the utilization of the knot and tuck technique, Beth Welmaker, the executive director of environmental health and safety for NSU, encouraged members of the university community to make educated decisions based on this valuable information.
“The surgical masks act like a filter. When you wear the surgical mask first, it may not fit as tightly as often the cloth face coverings do. You can wear the surgical mask first to serve as a filter and a cloth mask on top for a tighter fit. The other opportunity for [one] surgical mask is to follow the ‘[knot] and tuck’ technique. [The technique] significantly improves the way the mask will fit and give you that tighter seal,” explained Welmaker.
Welmaker said this, among other steps, including maintaining distance from others and reducing time spent in crowds, can help continue reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Further information regarding CDC recommendations for facial coverings, visit their website here. To view the video tutorial on the knot and tuck technique for surgical masks, visit this link that was included in the Sharks Return email.
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.
