Since DePaul students returned to in-person learning, coronavirus case numbers have predictably shot up with more students on campus. During the weeks of September 10 and 17, there were 21 and 16 positive student cases, respectively.
In an interview with Radio DePaul News, Cheryl Hover, DePaul’s associate director for emergency management, shared how students can stay safe during their transition back to in-person learning.
“We have a lot more students on campus right now,” Hover said. “Of course, we have the mandatory vaccine, which is a very effective tool at stopping severe symptoms, stopping hospitalizations.”
The deadline for most students to submit their proof of vaccination was on August 20. Overall, Hover said that the requirement received a positive reception from the campus community, despite a small percentage of complaints. However, the vaccine isn’t an end-all-be-all.
“We know, unfortunately, that you can get COVID and spread COVID, even if you’re vaccinated,” Hover said. “But, being vaccinated gives you a much greater level of protection.”
Hover stressed the importance of masks as an effective tool to fight the spread of COVID-19 on campus, which are still required indoors. Exceptions apply to staff and faculty who are alone in their office and those actively eating or drinking in dining or lounge areas.
If you do exhibit COVID-19 symptoms, Hover said that the best plan of action is to get tested.
“We don’t want those students to assume, ‘Oh, I think it’s just my sinuses acting up,’ or, ‘I think it’s just my allergies,’” Hover said. “COVID can present with many different types of symptoms, and we want to make sure that those individuals are getting tested if they do have any kind of symptoms or if they have known exposure.”
On campus, students can take advantage of two testing sites. Students can get tested Tuesdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. inside the McGrath-Phillips Arena at the Sullivan Athletic Center on the Lincoln Park campus,. Additionally, the concourse on the lower level of the DePaul Center on the Loop campus offers testing Mondays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Students who wish to take advantage of on-campus testing must first complete the DePaul SHIELD waiver before visiting the SHIELD IL login page where they will be asked to enter a special code, which can be found here, to schedule a time for their test. At the testing site, students need to have their ID on them to check in. Those getting tested on campus can expect to get their results back within 12 to 24 hours.
“The good news on testing is [that it’s] very different than it was a year ago when it was incredibly hard to find a test, not just on campus but anywhere,” Hover said. “Now, there’s test sites. There are test sites all over the city and the suburbs.”
Regardless of where they get tested, those who get a positive result are asked to self-report here for contact tracing. DePaul has a COVID-19 case tracker for all reported cases on campus.
As the Delta variant spreads, new concerns for infection have prompted the debate over booster shots to further protect against COVID-19. Currently, the FDA does not recommend the authorization of booster shots for those under 65 years old, despite President Joe Biden’s push to make booster shots available to most adults this week.
“Unfortunately, it’s just a little too soon to say [if booster shots will become a requirement],” Hover said. “As we did in the spring, if it does become a recommendation for the general population, we would do our best to make sure the vaccine was available.”
For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 policies at DePaul, students can visit go.depaul.edu/covid.