Safer Campus Task Force Updates

Face Coverings Provide Protection from COVID-19 
One of the mitigation strategies Stetson University uses against the spread of COVID-19 is the use of facial coverings. Some questions have been submitted regarding the efficacy of different masks. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser on COVID-19, has recently endorsed double-masking as providing increased efficacy, especially now that more transmissive forms of the virus are known to be circulating in the United States. His interview and additional information on mask effectiveness can be found in this article. 

Masks provide protection by filtering viral particles when a person talks, coughs or sneezes and by providing a physical barrier from these particles to those who use them. To be effective, masks must fit tightly around the bridge of the nose and around the face to allow for filtering through the mask and preventing air from escaping around it. According to Stetson policy, neck gaiters, face masks with exhalation valves, and face shields (unless used in conjunction with an acceptable cloth face covering) are not sufficient as a face covering. Information about the proper use of facial coverings can be found on the CDC website. 

For more information, review Stetson University’s facial covering policy. 

Stetson Gets $1.7M For Students Affected By COVID-19 
Stetson University has received $1.7 million in federal funding to help students with exceptional financial needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students can file an appeal for financial assistance with the Office of Student Financial Planning, which has begun distributing the aid from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Awards have already been made to more than 20 eligible students who had unpaid bills for tuition and fees from the Fall 2020 semester, which totaled about $90,000. Students can now file appeals for help with tuition bills for the Spring 2021 semester, housing costs and other educational expenses. To qualify, students must demonstrate exceptional need related to the pandemic, such as a parent’s job loss, reduced work income, losses in their college savings plan or unexpected medical bills, which have impacted their ability or their family’s ability to pay for college. Read the full story on Stetson Today. 

New Safer Campus Task Force Members 
Stetson’s Safer Campus Task Force is pleased to welcome three student representatives to our team! Student members include: 

• Carissa Ali, senior and Resident Assistant, DeLand campus 
• Ion Sancho, junior and SGA Senator-at-Large, DeLand campus 
• Connor Smedberg, third year law student, College of Law, Gulfport campus. 

The new members bring unique insight and key analysis to the task force reflecting the student perspective. SCTF also welcomes Dr. Jason M. Evans, executive director of the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience and associate professor of Environmental Science and Studies. Dr. Evans brings a wealth of experience and specialized expertise to the group. You can keep in touch with what is happening on campus related to COVID-19 through these Weekly Updates and on the Safer Stetson website under Latest Updates. 

COVID-19 Testing
Asymptomatic Testing: Weekly SalivaDirect PCR-based COVID-19 testing is offered on campus. SalivaDirect PCR-based testing is free for students, faculty and staff with a Stetson ID and no insurance is required. Stetson works with a vendor to administer this testing on campus, which includes on-site testing facilitators to assist with the laboratory registration process, test administration, and transportation of samples. They also help with evening testing to accommodate some of our special population mandatory testing groups (high-contact student employees and students participating in off-campus work) like student teachers. 

This SalivaDirect PCR-based testing differs in several ways, including: 

• Community members cannot eat or drink for 30 minutes prior to their appointment, with the exception of water. Using toothpaste or mouthwash as directed does not affect the outcome of this test. 
•  The test requires a 1-ml saliva specimen. 
• The medical lab will email results to individual participants within 24 to 48 hours of when the test was taken. 

Below are the upcoming testing dates and registration links. Testing will be provided every Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the Rinker Field House, Hollis Center. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to testing dates. Walk-ins will not be permitted. Please make a note of your registered testing date(s) and time(s) as appointment verification is only provided upon registration and via email 24 hours prior to your test(s). For appointment dates through May 5, please visit the COVID-19 Testing page. 

• Wednesday, Feb. 10 – Register (registration deadline Feb. 9 at 5 p.m.) 
• Wednesday, Feb. 17 – Register (registration deadline Feb. 16 at 5 p.m.) 

Our testing partner will also provide nighttime testing twice a month for Stetson’s student mandatory testing group participants (high-contact student employees and students participating in off-campus work) who cannot attend the daytime testing events offered weekly throughout the semester.    

Symptomatic Testing: Stetson Health Service offers rapid antigen COVID-19 nasal swab testing for symptomatic students and employees. Appointments must be scheduled and there will be a $35 visit charge for this testing. If the rapid antigen test is positive, the individual will receive a PCR test charged through insurance or referred to an off-campus option for those without insurance.

For more information, visit the COVID-19 Testing page or see Frequently Asked Questions on the DeLand Campus FAQ page. Please address questions and concerns to the Screening and Testing Subgroup at [email protected].  

A full list of Stetson University’s test result statistics is available on our COVID-19 Tracking page. 

COVID-19 Vaccinations 
Volusia County, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health (DOH), is continuously holding multiple COVID-19 vaccination events. Residents 65 and older, health care professionals, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, and individuals who are deemed extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 can preregister for vaccine appointments and request to be notified when appointments are available in their area by visiting the DOH’s new statewide vaccine website, myvaccine.fl.gov. Anyone not meeting these criteria may register to receive email updates on vaccine availability or call the Citizens Information Center at 866-345-0345 for additional information. 

In addition, the Daytona Beach VA clinic and local Publix pharmacies are providing COVID-19 vaccines to those who qualify. For eligibility requirements and appointment information, visit the Volusia County website. 

Latest COVID-19 Test Results 
Asymptomatic On-Campus Testing  

• Jan. 28 – 193 PCR tests, 1 positive, 0.52% rate 
• Jan. 22 – 37 rapid antigen tests of student-athletes and Athletics staff, 0 positive, 0% rate 
• Jan. 21 – 36 PCR tests of student-athletes and Athletics staff, 1 positive, 2.8% rate 
• Jan. 21 – 379 PCR tests, 1 positive, 0.26% positivity rate