Throughout Fall Semester, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley is providing regular email update messages to keep students and parents informed about the efforts for a healthy semester.
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,
Summary of updates in this message
- Status update on campus and in Alamance County
- Availability of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots
- Fall Break travel and testing
- Get your flu shot now
Status Update
The COVID case count is continuing to trend in a positive direction on campus. The university dashboard is updated on the Healthy Elon website each weekday morning.
- 11 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed among Elon students and employees over the past week, September 29 – October 5. This number has declined each week over the past four weeks.
- As of yesterday, October 5, there were an estimated 12 active cases among Elon students and employees. This number has also declined each week over the past four weeks.
- All North Carolina counties remain in the high community transmission category. The CDC and state health officials strongly recommend wearing masks in public indoor settings, including stores, restaurants, and other businesses.
Availability of COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots
All students, faculty, and staff who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for six months or more are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot. The CDC has authorized and recommended booster vaccine shots to strengthen and extend protections against severe illness.
Please carefully read the CDC information about booster shots and eligibility. Additional information from the university can be found on the FAQs section of the vaccination page on the Healthy Elon website or in the October 5 email message from the Healthy Elon Committee.
Fall Break Travel and Testing
With the upcoming Fall Break for undergraduate students, October 14-17, many individuals may be traveling. Please carefully review the CDC guidance for domestic U.S. travel during COVID-19 and use the travel planner tool to learn more about COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, and resources in your destination.
The schedule for asymptomatic testing at the university is available on the testing page of the Healthy Elon website, along with local testing resources. Asymptomatic students, staff, and faculty are welcome to attend testing in the Oaks (no appointment needed). Note that wait times for walk-up testing immediately before and after Fall Break may be a bit longer than normal.
Get Your Flu Shot Now
Make your plans now to complete the student flu vaccine requirement before the October 29 deadline. To fulfill this requirement, students can participate in an on-campus flu clinic, upload proof of vaccination from an off-campus provider to the Phoenix Health portal, or request a medical/religious waiver.
Employees who wish to schedule a flu vaccine appointment on campus should visit the Faculty/Staff Wellness Clinic website for information and appointments.
The Healthy Elon website provides important health and wellness information for students and employees, including what to do if you feel ill, test positive, or have close contact with a positive case. The site also offers responses to frequently asked questions about academics, vaccination, and employee information.
The next email update will be sent by Wednesday, October 13, at 10:45 a.m., unless an additional message is warranted before then. Detailed information is always available on the Healthy Elon website.
—
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life