Dear Students:
Fellow Cardinals, as we approach the end of on-campus instruction for the Fall semester, I want to acknowledge your resilience and thank you for caring for your fellow students. Your actions have allowed us to have an in-person Fall semester.
As we prepare to transition to remote learning for the remainder of this semester, it is imperative that we keep taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves, each other, and our campus community. We should also do what we can to protect our hometowns and our family as we transition to our homes.
Here are some things to consider as you transition to your home:
- Get a flu shot. With colder weather comes an increased likelihood of illness. Flu shots are available at the Ball State Health Center Pharmacy. Please call 765-285-1079 to schedule an appointment at the Student Health Center. You may also get a flu shot at local pharmacies in the area.
- Get tested for COVID-19. If you have vulnerable family members back at home, you may want to consider getting tested before you leave campus. Keep in mind, with the surge of cases in Indiana, more individuals are getting tested and PCR test results may be delayed. Find a testing site here. Please consider using a location that offers rapid tests.
- Once home, monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19. Continue practicing social-distancing, wear a mask around others, and wash your hands frequently. You might also consider quarantining for 14 days after you arrive at home.
- Avoid large gatherings. If you do plan on attending a holiday event with family or friends, please be responsible by following the Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for holiday celebrations.
- If traveling, avoid stops on your trip if at all possible.
Like many of you, I am excited about a well-deserved break. But please do not take a break from all the things we have learned this Fall, including the importance of getting tested. COVID-19 testing is not a one-and-done thing. It is an ongoing process of knowing your status to keep yourself and others around you safe.
Again, thank you for your hard work and cooperation this semester. We have endured a lot this Fall, but I look forward to our break and to a successful Spring term.
Chirp! Chirp!