Nine additional students test positive for COVID-19 during screenings

Dear members of the FVSU Family,

Over the past several days, Fort Valley State University has continued efforts to test members of our community for COVID-19 as part of our “Return to Campus” safety protocols. Through additional testing, we confirmed a total of 8 positive student cases, with seven students residing on campus and one off-campus. We also have three students tested by outside health agencies who tested positive, which brings our total positive count to 11 students. When we have any positive cases, we identify other students and/or staff who may have had exposure to the positive individual through contact tracing. Everyone who has met the standard for exposure, based on CDC and health official guidelines, has been contacted and testing has been arranged.

When we began testing, we recognized that the campus would experience positive cases. That is why it was critical we developed protocols around isolating students who tested positive to minimize the risk to the larger community. The health and safety of all members in our community is our number one priority and that is why testing, in addition to our other safety measures, is so important.

Over the next several weeks, we will increase our testing efforts. Through a partnership with Testing for America, we will expand our testing capacity, and the goal is mandatory testing of every member of our community. Because many people who contract COVID-19 are asymptomatic, it is impossible to determine and mitigate any risk without widespread testing. You will hear more about testing options in the coming days and we ask for your cooperation in advance. As we continue to remind everyone, we must all do our part in keeping our community safe.

To learn more about FVSU’s COVID-19 safety protocols, information and updates visit https://www.fvsu.edu/return-to-campus/
Sincerely,

Jesse Kane,
Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management