COVID-19 cases remain on the upswing in the Golden Triangle during a surge in the delta variant of the virus. Area universities, now two weeks into instruction, have defined details of policies designed to limit any outbreak on campus.
Mississippi State University is requiring anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 to isolate for 10 days. Students who test positive off-campus must report their results to the Longest Student Health Center by calling the MSU COVID-19 hotline, MSU Vice President of Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said.
Students are not allowed to quarantine within their residence hall room if they live on campus. They can go home or choose another off-campus location of their choosing. Hyatt said the university has a limited number of isolation spaces available for students with extenuating circumstances such as being unable to return home due to distance or having immunocompromised persons in their households.
If vaccinated people are in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus and are asymptomatic, they do not have to quarantine.
“If fully vaccinated, students do not need to quarantine if you remain symptom-free,” Hyatt said. “If unvaccinated and identified as a close contact, students are required to quarantine for the time specified by the Longest Student Health Center.”
MSU had an outbreak in Herbert Hall, a resident hall on campus, last week. This is the only outbreak the university has had since returning to campus.
Hyatt said students who live on a floor or wing where there is an outbreak are required to be tested or enter into quarantine unless vaccinated and not showing symptoms. This procedure is defined by the Mississippi State Department of Health in their guidance to colleges and universities.
Mississippi University for Women is also taking steps to prevent COVID-19 from spreading amongst students.
MUW Director of Housing and Residence Life Andrew Moneymaker said before students returned to campus this fall, they were all required to fill out a “self-care plan,” a layout of what they would need to do if they were to contract the virus.
Moneymaker said if students are able to return home and quarantine there, they have two hours to gather their belongings from their residence hall room and leave. If they are unable to return home due to particular circumstances, MUW has rooms available where the students can isolate themselves for the required time.
“Our policy right now is if a student isn’t feeling well or they were in close contact, we are notified by our campus health center,” Moneymaker said. “Once we’re notified of that student, we pull up their self-care plan and see what they say… We will definitely take care of the students based on what they listed on their self-care plan.”
On-campus isolation rooms are fully stocked with toilet paper, utensils, cleaning supplies, water, snacks, a first aid kit and more, and students are also delivered meals daily.
If students are fully vaccinated and not showing symptoms, they are not forced to isolate, but if they are not vaccinated, they are required to.
MUW has had no outbreaks in any of the residence halls, Moneymaker said.
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