COVID Information Update — Dec. 14, 2022

Published Dec 14, 2021 by
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Many thanks to each of you for your commitment to Pirates Protecting Pirates this semester. We were all excited to return to traditional activities for the fall semester, and because of our collective efforts, we were able to enjoy our campus together. Compliance with our community standards has led to lowered COVID-19 cases on campus and an 80% vaccination rate among our faculty, staff and students.

And while things look good right now, we cannot let up. As we prepare to conclude the fall 2021 semester, we want to share some updates for spring semester 2022. ECU officials continue to monitor COVID-19 infection rates and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNC System Office, and state and local guidance, and to use that information as we make decisions.

  • Face coverings for students, faculty, staff and visitors will still be required in all indoor spaces, including classrooms, libraries, labs, dining halls and residence hall common areas. Masks are also recommended outdoors when 6 feet of personal space cannot be maintained. Click here for details. We will monitor the data and revisit this requirement on Feb. 1, 2022.
  • Students and employees on university property must either be vaccinated or be tested in accordance with surveillance testing processes.
  • COVID vaccines are still the best protection against coronavirus. Students may schedule an appointment with Student Health Services (SHS) to get vaccines or boosters. Employees may also receive vaccines and boosters at different locations in the community and at SHS outreach clinics.
  • Students: If you received your vaccine off campus, please upload it to myPIRATEchart.
  • Employees: If you responded to the Employee Attestation survey that you were vaccinated and/or uploaded your vaccination card to myPIRATEchart, please send proof of vaccination to covidvaccination@ecu.edu.
  • ECU is not collecting booster vaccine information currently.
  • We also strongly encourage you to get your flu shot. Flu shots are available at Student Health Services for students and employees. Flu shots are also available at the ECU Pharmacy.
  • Our Community Expectations will remain in effect until further notice.
  • ECU administration will revisit community standards and safety measures around Feb. 1. Please continue to visit Return of Pirate Nation for additional information.

 

Fall 2021 Exit Testing and Vaccine Clinic

As you prepare to leave for the semester, ECU wants you to still be safe and careful as you travel to your destination. Student Health Services will host a Vaccine Booster Clinic for J&J and Moderna vaccines on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, in MCSC Ballroom C from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Please note that these clinics are open to ECU students, faculty, and staff members only. Individuals should bring their insurance card and vaccine card to the clinic. No appointment is necessary.

The first 200 individuals who receive a vaccine or booster will get a free Chick-Fil-A coupon.

Students, faculty, and staff may participate in exit testing at the MAKO Clinic site (on 10th Street/old FedEx building). The current MAKO Clinic will be operating Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Pre-registration is available at this link.

 

Update on Employee Vaccination Mandates

During this semester, two vaccine mandates were implemented on campus for certain employee populations. The clinical vaccine mandate was announced on Sept. 1, 2021. The deadline for impacted employees to comply with this mandate was Dec. 1, 2021. ECU Human Resources will be reaching out to the management of the employees who did not meet that deadline to discuss next steps. The federal contractor mandate, in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order 14042 and guidance issued by the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, was announced on Oct. 25, 2021; ECU is taking a phased approach to implementation. A second announcement was made on Dec. 1, 2021, which expanded the number of employees affected by this mandate. On Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, a nationwide injunction was issued that halted the federal contractor vaccine mandate. As a result of this injunction, ECU has made the decision to pause implementation and enforcement of the federal contractor mandate until more clarity is available. ECU Human Resources will contact employees who have previously been notified they are subject to this mandate.

 

Updates for Spring Semester 2022

Reentry Testing for Non-Exempt Campus Living Residents

The following information applies only to Campus Living students who are NOT exempt from testing requirements. If you have questions, please contact campuslivingcovid@ecu.edu.

Non-exempt students living in residence halls will have to participate in reentry testing. Below is the information for reentry testing. Please plan accordingly and continue checking your student e-mail for additional information.

  • Testing dates/times:
    • Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 (12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
    • Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
    • Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 (9 a.m. to noon)
    • Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022 (9 a.m. to noon)
  • Testing locations:
    • Todd Dining Hall (Sweethearts)
    • West End Dining Hall (Tiffin)
  • Testing method: PCR
  • Students who are fully vaccinated or in a 90-day window from a recent positive COVID test will not be subject to reentry testing requirements.
  • SHS staff will also be onsite to offer COVID/flu vaccines and help students upload vaccine cards.
  • Outside lab COVID tests will not be accepted for reentry testing.
  • Consequences of not testing will include deactivation of PirateID’s and fob access to buildings.

Weekly Surveillance Testing – Students and Employees

Please note that Student Health Services will be using the 10th Street (old FedEx) building and will be operating on a different schedule than the previous MAKO Clinic. This pertains to both on-campus and off-campus students in the surveillance testing protocol. Students who do not comply with the weekly surveillance testing protocol may experience consequences that will include deactivation of PirateIDs. If there are questions, please contact ecustudentcovidtesting@ecu.edu.

Employee surveillance testing will continue in the spring semester. Testing will still be located in the 10th Street (old FedEx) building but conducted by Student Health Services as opposed to MAKO. More information about this change will be sent to employees in the surveillance testing program from the COVID Employee Testing team.

Please see below for the times and locations for SHS testing opportunities.

  • Testing dates/times:
    • Main Campus locations: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Health Sciences location: Tuesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Testing locations:
    • 321 10th Street/old FedEx site
    • Tiffin Room, West End Dining Hall
    • Sweethearts, Todd Dining Hall
    • SHS, Health Sciences Student Center
  • Testing method: Saliva

Change to COVID Self Reporting Spring 2022

Please note changes. Faculty will no longer receive correspondence from the Dean of Students Office when a student self-reports with COVID.

New process (Beginning January 2022):

  • Student will complete the self-report in Pirateport.
  • The self-report will be automatically distributed to the faculty members. The new version of the self-report will specify if the student is completing the self-report because they are in isolation or quarantine. Faculty should treat this as they do the flu self-report.
  • Faculty should expect to receive a return to class note from students indicating they have been cleared to return to class. The student will still receive a return to class note from SHS (whether in isolation or quarantine). Students who use a provider not with SHS should be expected to produce a return to class note from their healthcare provider. It is the responsibility of the students to present this note to the faculty.

We hope you have a safe, healthy, enjoyable winter break; you have earned it. Please continue to practice safety protocols as you travel and visit with family and friends. Remember to take care of yourself and others.

Let’s stay the course. Thank you again for your support as we continue to protect the health and safety of our ECU Community. See you in January as Pirates continue protecting Pirates.

— Dr. Virginia Hardy, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs