In an email sent to the campus community on Sept. 8, Shippensburg University’s COVID-19 office provided an update on campus safety protocols in light of the recent rise of cases in Pennsylvania.
Free COVID testing will continue to be available in Etter Health Center by appointment from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Self-testing kits also can be picked up during business hours.
Individuals are encouraged to isolate at home for five days and wear a high-quality mask for 10 days after testing positive, according to the email.
On-campus isolation housing is very limited and is approved on a case-by-case basis. Masking is still only required on campus in Etter’s Wellness Center and by request in faculty offices.
This comes as areas of the country are experiencing a late summer spike in COVID cases. Pennsylvania hospitalizations are still far below the peak reached in 2022 — an 83% year-over-year drop — according to an Axios report.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, CDC Director Mandy Cohen stressed that the U.S. is in “a much better place in August of 2023.”
“We have stronger immunity and tools to protect ourselves, we have vaccines, at-home tests, effective treatments and common-sense strategies like washing your hands and staying away from people when you're sick,” Cohen said.
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