Archive for ‘COVID-19’

Every residential address in the U.S. can order one set of four free at-home tests. Order your tests today to have them in stock if you need them.

As the world continues to learn to manage COVID-19, ACU remains committed to our community’s health, safety and well-being. We’ll return to standard health protocols in Fall 2022. Individuals who are ill should stay home until they are well and follow the directives of their healthcare provider. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or other highly communicable diseases, including Monkeypox, should notify the Weber Medical Clinic. The Health Response Team meets regularly to monitor infection trends within our community based on data from the clinic. The ACU Coronavirus website has been updated with information regarding COVID-19 protocols for Fall 2022. 

Every residential address in the U.S. is eligible to order two sets of four free at-home tests. Order your tests today to have them in stock if you need them.

Regardless of vaccination, students, faculty, and staff who test positive or are exposed should submit the COVID-19 Notification Form and a representative from the ACU Medical Clinic will reach out with instructions.

From Jan. 6-21, face coverings will be required in classrooms, labs, studios and other instructional spaces, and indoor Chapel gatherings. In all other common interior spaces, masks are strongly recommended but not required.

Organizers of large events should consider moving them outdoors when possible to minimize interactions in close indoor spaces. Face coverings for faculty and staff, and physical distancing, are encouraged in office settings, as is the continued use of Zoom or other technology when appropriate for meetings.

In addition, our policies for isolation and quarantine have changed to reflect the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. Read the full details of this policy at acu.edu/coronavirus.

If you have not been vaccinated or are due for a booster, we strongly recommend that you go to the Medical Clinic as soon as possible. You may make an appointment online here or call 325-674-2625 to schedule. The Medical Clinic stocks Moderna and J&J vaccines, and they are available at no charge.

We will continue to monitor CDC guidelines as they are updated and evaluate the pandemic’s effect on our learning and living environments. On or before Jan. 23, we will reassess the COVID-19 landscape and let you know if we need to take additional action or revise these protocols.

Because unvaccinated people in Abilene and elsewhere are proving to be the individuals most likely to be affected by the Delta variant, we strongly encourage COVID-19 vaccination. We realize that is your choice, and the university will not require it at this point (except for international travel), as we are shifting away from managing community care and asking individuals to be responsible for their wellness. That means vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

We deeply appreciate all who have notified the ACU Medical Clinic about their vaccination status. If you have not already done so, you can upload your card here. Our Coronavirus website is always the best place to check for the most recent information and protocols. The Weber Medical Clinic on campus has the Moderna and J&J vaccinations available, with walk-ins welcome.

At this time, vaccinated individuals will not have to quarantine if exposed. The CDC recommends they self-monitor, get tested within three to five days, and wear a mask for 14 days unless they test negative. Unvaccinated individuals must quarantine if exposed. To confidentially notify the Medical Clinic of your vaccination status, you can upload your vaccination card here.

We will continue to monitor CDC guidelines and take additional action or revise our protocols as necessary to ensure campus health and safety.

At this time, ACU does not require face masks to be worn. However, we encourage all members of our community to consider wearing face masks in indoor spaces on campus and strongly recommend they be worn by all unvaccinated persons. We will continue to monitor CDC guidelines and take additional action or revise our protocols as necessary to ensure campus health and safety. For the most up-to-date information and protocols, please visit the ACU Coronavirus website.

Individuals who are vaccinated and exposed will not have to quarantine unless they develop symptoms. Regardless of vaccination, students, faculty, and staff who test positive or are exposed should submit the COVID-19 Notification Form and a representative from the ACU Medical Clinic will reach out with instructions.

ACU will not require vaccination (except for international travel), but we strongly encourage it for your own health and safety. Vaccination will also minimize disruption to our students’ academic and co-curricular experiences. Fully vaccinated individuals will not need to quarantine if contact tracing reveals they were exposed (unless they become symptomatic).

While testing will not be required, it is widely available. Vaccines are offered at no cost at the ACU Medical Clinic, where testing is also available. Please visit acu.edu/medical-and-counseling-care for appointments and other details.