Wednesday, January 19, 2022 COVID-19 Updates | Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

COVID-19 PCR Testing Offered at Depot Six Days a Week

The university continues FREE COVID-19 PCR testing for symptomatic or asymptomatic students, faculty and staff at the University-Oxford Depot on campus, six days a week.

Monday through Friday, 3-7 p.m.
Saturdays, noon-4 p.m.

To schedule your test:

Text “2020” to 833-991-3009 OR click on this link: http://86borders.com/l/68415e8f
Complete the Testing Intake Form
You will receive a confirmation # to present at the testing site
Show up (with your University-affiliated ID) any day, any time during testing hours that week.

The Health Center also offers COVID-19 testing on campus. Call Student Health at (662) 915-7274 or Employee Health at (662) 915-6550 to schedule a test. The Mississippi State Department of Health continues to have appointments for FREE COVID-19 testing at the Oxford Conference Center Monday through Friday. More information and available appointments can be found here. And these clinics around town offer COVID-19 testing.

Events and Extracurricular Activities

University departments and registered student organizations (RSOs) may arrange events, gatherings and extracurricular activities. As the university returns for the spring 2022 semester, we are in the midst of the Omicron variant surge. We encourage Registered Student Organizations and Campus Departments to plan accordingly when hosting events and activities on campus and off-campus. It is highly encouraged for events, activities and meetings to be moved virtually and avoid serving food (or other activities that require mask removal) as much as possible during the first few weeks of the semester. As we proceed into the semester, we expect to return to previous formats and levels of activity.

The university continues to require face coverings in indoor public spaces on campus, regardless of vaccination status. This includes public office spaces, classrooms, conference rooms and other academic spaces like laboratories and libraries. Additionally, masks are required while traversing public spaces in residence halls, dining facilities, fraternity and sorority house common areas, The Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union, Campus Recreation, and retail spaces. Masks are required for extracurricular activities held in indoor on-campus spaces. Face coverings are not required when outdoors but social distancing is encouraged.

Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) must submit their in-person events (all in-person meetings, programs, events and activities) through The ForUM and must comply with the University of Mississippi’s event registration policy https://union.olemiss.edu/about-event-registration/. RSOs can contact union@olemiss.edu. Academic and administrative units can contact Emily Ferris with the Events and Activities Task Force.

Suggestions and Recommendations for Events and Extracurricular Activities

In-person events and activities are recommended to take place only if they have a clear and specific business or educational purpose.
All individuals must wear masks while indoors in a public or event space and maintain social distancing when indoors and outdoors. Please follow CDC guidelines for how to wear a mask so that masks can be as effective as possible.
Physical distancing is highly recommended for indoor events and extracurricular activities (Capacity of space should allow for 6 feet distancing or 3 feet distancing for classroom-style seated events).
Food service and other activities indoors that require removal of masks are not recommended.
List of attendees is recommended to assist with potential contact tracing.
Transportation: Masks required per CDC guidance (vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals).

COVID-19 Vaccines

Please get vaccinated or boosted if you are eligible. Vaccines are available for free for Ole Miss employees and students at the University Health Center Pharmacy weekdays 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Get a shot and get Ole Miss swag! Pharmacy Health Services is located inside the V.B. Harrison Health Center on campus, (662) 915-5279. Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available for those aged 18 and up, while Pfizer is available for anyone 12 and up. A list of local vaccine clinics is available on UM’s vaccination webpage. More information about where to get a vaccine can also be found at vaccines.gov.

Featured FAQ: How do I end isolation if I’ve tested positive for COVID-19 but had no symptoms?

According to the CDC, if you test positive for COVID-19 and never develop symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the day of your positive viral test (based on the date you were tested) and day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for your positive test. You can leave isolation after 5 full days. If you continue to have no symptoms, you can end isolation after at least 5 days. You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public until day 10 (day 6 through day 10). If you are unable to wear a mask when around others, you should continue to isolate for 10 days.

News Stories and Resources

COVID-19 Data

MSDH reported the following information for COVID-19 cases in Mississippi (as of Jan. 18):
- 8,460 new cases, 48 new deaths and 308 long-term care facilities outbreaks.
Mississippi Vaccination Report (as of Jan. 19):
- 3,601,077 total doses administered; 1,700,015 people receiving at least one dose; and 1,471,798 people fully vaccinated.
- Lafayette County: 70,261 Total Doses Administered; 29,008 People Fully Vaccinated, 54% of Total Population Fully Vaccinated.

Quick Links

Public Health Officials Recommend Masks That: Have two or more layers, cover your nose and mouth, fit snugly, don't have gaps, have a nose wire. The university requires face coverings in indoor public spaces on campus, regardless of vaccination status.