Health Guidelines & COVID-19 Responses
2024 Campus Update
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
A Message from the Viral Illness Response Team
The CDC recently adjusted their guidance for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In accordance with this change, NCWU will no longer require a mandatory five day quarantine for people testing positive for COVID-19. Beginning on Monday, April 1, 2024, our new policy is as follows:
- Any student that tests positive for COVID-19 must immediately notify the Health Center by emailing jbrys@ncwu.edu.
- COVID patients must quarantine off campus or in their residence hall room until they have been fever-free (without the use of medicine to reduce fever) for 24 hours.
- COVID patients may resume normal activities when they have been fever-free for 24 hours, but will be required to mask for ten days from the date of symptom onset.
- Faculty will be notified of dates that students are instructed to mask. Failure to comply with the masking instructions is a Code of Conduct violation.
- Direct contacts will still be required to mask for five days after exposure and then take a COVID test. If negative at that time, they can discontinue masking.
To avoid getting sick you can wash your hands often, get plenty of rest, eat a healthy diet, and avoid contact with people that are sick.
Mask Policy
General Questions
Students should contact Jessica Brys-Wilson, Physician Assistant, at the Health Center by calling 252.985.5186 or via email at jbrys-wilson@ncwu.edu. with any questions regarding NC Wesleyan’s response to the Coronavirus. While classes are in session she will be on campus Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. to provide acute care and health education free of charge to the students, staff, and faculty of NCWU.
For your own health and that of those in your community, NC Wesleyan University strongly recommends that everyone follow the “Your Health” COVID-19 guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This guidance includes recommendations regarding what to do if you are feeling sick and guidance regarding quarantine and isolation, links to which are found below.
Feeling Sick?
Quarantine & Isolation
For information about the CARES Act and the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), or to view NC Wesleyan University’s HEERF Reports, please visit our CARES Act page.
FAQs
Q: Are who test positive for COVID-19 sent home or quarantined on campus?
A: Students who have not been vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 will need to leave campus immediately upon receiving a positive test result. Students who are fully vaccinated and boosted and less than 200 miles from campus will need to leave campus immediately to quarantine. Fully vaccinated and boosted students who live farther than 200 miles from campus may be offered a quarantine room at an off-campus hotel if one is available.
Q: How is contact tracing being conducted?
A: Contact tracing is conducted by our Certified Physician Assistant.
Q: Are students who come in close contact with an infected student being notified?
A: Yes. Our PA reaches out to all reported direct contacts.
Q: Are students who were in close contact also required to quarantine as a precaution?
A: At this time, direct contacts are required to wear a mask anytime they are around others and have a test performed on day 5 after exposure, or sooner if they develop symptoms. They are not required to quarantine unless they test positive.
Q: Are classrooms and other public facilities being sanitized regularly?
A: Classrooms are cleaned a minimum of once per day and sometimes twice per day. Also, students are required to wipe down their desks with disinfectant wipes before and after class. The College uses the Clorox Total 360 System, an electrostatic sprayer, to clean classrooms with surfaces being wiped down as well. For extra precaution, all classrooms have air purifiers in them and many classrooms are outfitted with window fans to blow air outside of the classroom.
Previous COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 Update – April 29, 2022
Effective 5/1/22 at 5 pm, the university recommends a mask optional policy for students, employees, and visitors. Unvaccinated individuals can continue to wear masks when they are unable to socially distance themselves and it is optional for college employees to wear masks in their classes or in their offices. The University plans to have a […]
COVID-19 Update – February 10, 2022
Effective 2/11/22 at 5 pm, we will move to a mask optional policy for students, employees, and visitors that are fully vaccinated or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last three months. We ask that unvaccinated individuals continue to wear masks when they are unable to socially distance themselves. College employees can continue to […]
COVID-19 Update – September 3, 2021
All employees and students are required to wear face cloth or disposable medical-grade face coverings indoors. Should you have a medical or accessibility-related need to wear an alternative type of face covering, please contact Health Services or Accessibility Services at jbrys@ncwu.edu or accessibility@ncwu.edu, respectively. (Please note that our COVID policy and protocols are subject to change at any […]
COVID-19 Update – August 9, 2021
Please be advised that as of, Tuesday, August 10, the College will require all persons to wear masks inside all campus buildings through Labor Day, Monday, September 6. We are closely watching local and regional COVID-19 trends and are primed to determine the steps necessary to protect our community as the circumstances evolve. We are closely following […]
COVID-19 Update – July 26, 2021
The college has created the following list for the safety of our students, faculty, and staff for this fall. You’ll note below that instructors may require students to wear masks in their classes as long as it’s noted as a policy in the syllabus or syllabus addendum (such as an email that is intended to […]
COVID-19 Update – July 14, 2021
The College’s COVID-19 policy is based on the CDC recommendations, Governor Cooper’s most recent directives, and NC DHHS guidance for non-vaccinated persons. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2021/07/08/greater-urgency-get-vaccinated-covid-19-cases-increase COVID-19 vaccinated employees and students in small groups may remove their masks indoors. Unvaccinated persons should continue to wear their masks indoors. Outdoors, individuals may remove masks unless clustered in large groups. […]
COVID-19 Update – May 19, 2021
The College’s updated face covering policy applies until further notice and is based on the CDC recommendations, Governor Cooper’s most recent mandate, and NC DHHS guidance for non-vaccinated persons. COVID-19 vaccinated employees and students in small groups may remove their masks indoors. Unvaccinated persons should continue to wear their masks indoors. Outdoors, individuals may remove […]
COVID-19 Update – October 28
There are four weeks left before the end of the fall 2020 term. We remain confident that we can make it to November 24th with on-campus, face-to-face instruction. Over these next few weeks, please reference the Wesleyan Pledge as a reminder of each of our responsibilities as part of the Wesleyan Community. As we come […]
Campus Remains in Phase 2.5 Until October 5
We are in Phase 2.5 (as a College) until October 5 or whenever the Governor gives his next update. The only thing that has changed as a College is that indoor mass gatherings are limited to 25 and outdoor mass gatherings are limited to 50 unless the event supports the instructional mission of the College. […]
Campus Remains in Phase Two-Until Sept 11
Because NC is still in phase two through September 11, we will remain in our phase two as well. As a reminder, here is phase two for Wesleyan. During Phase Two (CONTROLLED Phase – ORANGE) All employees should report to work as normally scheduled, unless you are still considered in the vulnerable population category. Those […]
