Fresno State has provided updated information relating to availability for campus wide at-home-testing kits, supplies and information on where to access flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines, following a rise in COVID-19 cases.
Robert K. Mitchell, director of medical services, shared insight on what percentage of COVID-19 levels have looked like in the last month.
“California, it’s about 2.8%,” Mitchell said. “We are right on par with larger states like Texas, which is 2.7 and we are 2.8.”
Adding that COVID-19 is still around and should be taken seriously.
“One of the things I tell patients is be mindful about your symptoms,” Mitchell said. “You never know until you test.”
Mitchell added after that students who may have symptoms of Covid or even the flu should be mindful of the people that they are around.
Free COVID-19 testing kits are available at the Student Health and Counseling Center.
Per Cal-OSHA requirements, complimentary testing kits will be provided to those employees who have had close contact at work and employee outbreak areas.
These tests will be provided at no cost by the Office of Environment Health and Safety/Risk Management.
As Fresno State wants to remind, students who are feeling sick or not feeling well should stay at home.
Janell Morillo, associate vice president of the Student Health, Counseling and Wellness Center mentioned that Fresno State’s health center has worked alongside other organizations.
“Dr. Mitchell has been and his team of medical providers have worked closely with the Fresno County Department of Public Health and we actually get weekly emails from them on updates of things going on in the community,” Morillo said.
M Pox,formerly known as monkeypox, isn’t necessarily a threat now, but it is important to be mindful of.
“It’s important for are team to be aware of the potential and that the symptoms and they have all been trained, so if someone were to present themselves at the health center with similar like symptoms, they would be treated accordingly,” Morillo said.
If students and employees test positive, they must fill out an online form immediately.
Students experiencing symptoms should contact the Student Health and Counseling Center at 559-278-2734 for further medical directions according to the email sent out by campus communication.
Flu shots and COVID-19 vaccine boosters are available through primary care physicians and pharmacies.
“We very much promote getting the Covid vaccine because we do know that it will help tremendously and really keeping Covid at bay,” Morillo said.
In the email sent out by campus communication, the Student Health and Counseling Center will be offering a flu clinic for students once details are finalized.
In the past, Fresno State with the help of UCSF have done a few pop up clinics for the campus and that is something the center wants to continue to pursue according to Morillo.
Face coverings are highly encouraged and faculty will continue to have a discretion to require face coverings for in-person classes as they evaluate the health and safety needs in their classrooms.
“Fresno State no longer requires masks to be worn indoors, but based on updated guidance from public health experts, the University highly recommends that all students, faculty, and staff, regardless of vaccination status, wear a surgical grade KN95 mask indoors,” the Covid-19 update page says.
Kits with disinfecting spray, paper towels and gloves will be available in classrooms by request to Custodial Services.
Hand sanitizer stations will be at the first floor entrance in most campus buildings.
Morillo added insight on the buildings that have these sanitizing dispensers.
“For an example the library, right when you walk into the library; the RSU, Health Center, USU, where there are large common spaces for students, they have these hand sanitizer stations,” Morillo said.
Fresno State’s COVID-19 website will continue to have valuable resources for the most recent guidelines for when you need to isolate and quarantine.
“We have put a lot of effort into getting the word out about the health center and having students understand that you pay for this service,” Morillo said. “There is a mandatory student health fee that all students pay and so therefore you should really take advantage of it because you can get the best medical care from a great team.”
The campus will continue to follow these guidelines until further notice.
