• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

The University of Mississippi

  • COVID-19 Information
    • About Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
    • Support within the UM community
    • How Can I Help?
    • Where can I get tested in Oxford?
    • Report a Positive COVID-19 Test
  • Vaccination
  • Campus Plan
    • Campus Ready PDF
    • Future Planning Task Force
    • Public Education and Awareness
  • “Are You Ready?” Pledge
  • FAQs
  • Resources
    • Contacts

Latest Updates

All Vaccine Appointments are Currently Scheduled

On Jan. 13, 2021, the MS State Department of Health released a statement that the recent increase in online vaccination appointments has scheduled all of Mississippi’s current vaccine supply. Appointments are expected to resume in mid-February when Mississippi receives a new vaccine shipment.

Expanded Groups Eligible for Vaccine

MSDH issued a Health Alert sharing that in addition to healthcare personnel,  the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine has expanded to include Persons aged 65 years and older and Persons age 16-64 with underlying medical conditions, as follows: cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Down syndrome, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies), immunocompromised from solid organ transplant, obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or severe Obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, smoking, diabetes, or other medical conditions determined by the medical provider.

Governor Press Briefing on Vaccine

On Jan. 4, 2021, Gov. Tate Reeves and Dr. Thomas Dobbs, along with other state officials, held a press conference to provide information on the state’s continued health and economic response to COVID-19 including an update on the vaccine.

COVID-19 Free Testing

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has FREE testing available in every county for college and university students, faculty and staff. This offer includes symptomatic and asymptomatic testing. You can be tested free of charge at any county health department testing locations listed on this page, or daily at the free testing site in Jackson. Testing is offered at these locations only on scheduled days (see complete list of locations and testing days here). You will need to make an appointment before you visit by filling out an online questionnaire. You will receive an appointment regardless of whether you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with someone who is infected. When completing the online questionnaire, if you are asymptomatic be sure to provide answers through the fourth question, which asks, “Are you a student, faculty, or staff member of a Mississippi college or university?” When you respond “yes,” you will have options to choose a location and select a date and time. Appointments in and around the UM community are now available on the days and locations listed below: 

  • DeSoto Co. Health Department: Jan. 6 and 8
  • Lafayette Co. Health Department: Jan. 6
  • Lee Co. Health Department: Jan. 6 and 8
  • Grenada Co. Health Department: Jan. 6 and 8
  • Marshall Co. Health Department: Jan. 6 and 7
  • Panola Co. Health Department: Jan. 7
  • Pontotoc Co. Health Department: Jan. 8
  • Union Co. Health Department: Jan. 6 and 8
  • Yalobusha Co. Health Department: Jan. 7

UM Libraries Winter Break Update

See the full calendar for hours of operation.

Residence halls operations during the holidays

For on-campus residents, most residence halls will close Wednesday, Nov. 25, at noon and reopen Friday, Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. Students in Wintersession classes can return to their residence hall on Sunday, Jan. 3 at noon. Some residence halls will stay open over the break – more info here. If you want to request on- or off-campus housing over Winter Break, submit the Break Housing Request form in the Student Housing Portal or contact UMatter for help. The Department of Student Housing will continue offering isolation and quarantine spaces to on-campus residents after classes end and through the holiday break. Please contact Student Housing for more information.

Updated Quarantine Guidance from MSDH

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) released new guidance on Dec. 8 for options for reduced quarantine period for contacts to COVID-19-infected persons. This new guidance is in alignment with the CDC and shortens the 14-day quarantine period after exposure to a COVID-19 infected individual, based on symptom and/or testing strategies. Read the Health Alert for details.

Need to report your positive COVID-19 result over the weekend or after business hours? There are two ways you can accomplish this.

  1. Download the Everbridge App and select the Report Positive COVID-19 button. Then scan or take a picture of your results and upload it to our HIPAA compliant UMBOX. Only University Health Services personnel will be able to view your documentation.
  2. Fill out the UHS Self Report form, scan or take a picture of your results and upload both the form and your results to our HIPAA compliant UMBOX. Only University Health Services personnel will be able to view your documentation.

Answering your questions

  • UM COVID-19 Info Line (Available: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)  662-915-3600
  • UM COVID-19 Email: C19@olemiss.edu
  • Baptist Memorial Hospital, North Mississippi 24-hour Hotline: (866) 941-4785
  • MS State Department of Health COVID-19 Hotline: 877-978-6453

Primary Sidebar

UPDATES FOR THE UM COMMUNITY

  • Official University Messages
  • Campus Update Digests
  • Subscribe to Updates
  • Confirmed Cases Reported to UM
  • COVID-19 Dashboard
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Student Health
  • Employee Health
  • Keep Teaching
  • Keep Learning
  • Keep Discovering
  • UM COVID-19 News
  • CDC’s COVID-19 Hub
The University of Mississippi logo
EEO Statement Give Us Your Feedback Accessibility Ethics Line UM Creed
Copyright © 2021 The University of Mississippi. All Rights Reserved.