TO: University of Idaho Students, Faculty and Staff
FROM: Scott Green, President
DATE: Nov. 23, 2020
SUBJECT: COVID-19 Testing
This week we celebrate the things for which we are thankful, and high on that list was the ability to live and learn together this fall. Vandals gave of themselves each and every day to help us meet the high bar of remaining in person amid a pandemic.
As we anticipated, many took advantage to voluntarily test before leaving for the Thanksgiving break. As expected, results for 1,095 tests this past week had a higher percentage of positives than the previous week, coming in at 5.48%. This is due to no random general surveillance testing and is in line with what we are seeing in the Moscow community and across the state. We are glad so many from our U of I community took the opportunity to test and head into the holiday week aware of asymptomatic cases and able to take actions to reduce the spread.
While many students and staff will resume work and class remotely Monday, Nov. 30, some students and employees will return to the Moscow campus. Testing will be available, but we ask you to wait six days after your return to test in an effort to get the most accurate results. Contact covid19questions@uidaho.edu to schedule a test.
Employees statewide should work from home if it is feasible and you have supervisor approval. All services and supports should remain available through Dec. 18.
We will continue to post our numbers, as we always have, on the official COVID-19 website, but our communications will be intermittent through the remainder of the semester and Winter Break. Plans for spring semester are being finalized and will be communicated after Thanksgiving. Please watch your email for those details. It is safe to say the spring semester will look a lot like fall. We will test, use wastewater sampling and thermal-imaging scanners. Face coverings will continue to be required in buildings and social distancing measures will be in place.
What will be different in the spring is sports. At this time, we are planning for a busy spring with a calendar full of games — including spring football. Our basketball games will begin without spectators due to the state being moved back to Stage 2. While we can’t be there in person, I know I am excited to take in a game and glad we have the opportunity to do so with all games streamed live on PlutoTV Channel 1010 or Pluto.TV/live-tv.
I wish you a restful and relaxing Fall Break. We will see you online Nov. 30.
Keep Calm and Vandal On.
Scott Green
President
president@uidaho.edu
uidaho.edu/president
