There are currently 11 Texas Woman’s University students, faculty and staff in isolation and 74 in quarantine as of Wednesday after being exposed to COVID-19.
This is lower than the numbers compared to last week, which was 12 in isolation and 93 in quarantine.
“Overall, we are down back from the end of December early January rise,” executive director of risk management Matt Moustakas said. “We are down back to [the numbers of] mid to early December. That is a good downwards trend.”
Risk management is planning on signing a memorandum of understanding with a company to provide on campus testing. The company could start to provide on campus testing as early as sometime next week, Moustakas said.
“They are planning on [providing testing] Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from a period of 6 to twelve months as needed,” Moustakas said.
There is currently no word on whether TWU will receive more vaccines from the state. Student Health Services has requested additional vaccines, Moustakas said, but they have not received a response yet.
“The state is sending out more and more vaccines to those mega sites or the hub sites,” Moustakas said. “So, I think that really is a focus, especially with all of the positive reviews so to speak of the Texas Motor Speedway process, so I think [the state] is leaning into that.”
TWU has started the process of providing the second dose of the vaccine earlier this week to those who have received the first dose. They have administered all of the first doses of the vaccine.
“If you have had both shots of the vaccine, you still have to report exposure to those who have tested positive or showing symptoms,” Moustakas said.
Career Connections hosted an online event to discuss how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected Black and Brown communities called “Covid-19 and the Color Line” on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The session included some of TWU’s nursing healthcare professionals and infectious disease directors to speak and answer questions.
“While there are vaccines available, there has been a huge pushback on whether the vaccine is safe and effective for the Black and Brown community,” career consultant Trevor McCray said in an email about the event. “Historical factors play a huge role in the underpinnings of why Black and Brown individuals have distrust with America’s Healthcare System.”
Laura Pearson can be reached via email at lpearson6@twu.edu
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