Coronavirus

We need your help to properly plan for COVID-19 pooled saliva testing. We are asking every employee to complete this short survey. We ask supervisors to ensure their reports complete it so we have an accurate count of on-campus employees to update our testing plans, report to system and help county health officials make plans. Please complete this short form by Friday, Jan. 29.

The next scheduled pooled saliva testing is tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in STUAC. All students currently living on campus must participate. All employees who are regularly on campus physically should plan to participate as well. To comply with SUNY system’s recent guidelines and our recently approved COVID plan, everyone must be tested weekly.

We hope you have enjoyed a restful winter break! We have delayed our start of classes until Feb. 8.This delay in the start to the semester will allow cases from the holidays to clear, more people to be vaccinated, and more of the semester’s work to be conducted in (hopefully) warmer weather that allows for more ventilation and outdoor activity.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this week’s final pooled saliva testing effort before the end of in-person instruction on campus. We are as appreciative of all students and employees who gave their samples as we are for the volunteers who helped staff the collection efforts.

I understand the world is full of a lot of uncertainty, and 2020 has perhaps reminded us of that more than any other year in recent memory. As we wrap up in-person instruction for the Fall 2020 semester, I want to assure you that SUNY Morrisville will eagerly await your safe return in January for the Spring 2021 semester. We are proud of and grateful for the successful first half of this academic year.

All testing samples collected this week (Nov. 2-6) for both wastewater and pooled saliva testing for COVID-19 have been received. Two pooled saliva tests from student-athlete samples came back positive, and reflex testing is underway to identify individuals with positive tests. Employee samples all came back negative.

As you prepare to leave campus following the end of in-person classes in the coming weeks, all students must first participate in one final round of pooled saliva testing, as required by SUNY System Administration in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 from community to community. While all in-person classes will conclude on Friday, Nov. 20, testing will be made available next week for students who have completed their remaining in-person instruction prior to that date.

Dear Mustangs, We know that this has been a rough and challenging semester. We know that gathering and socializing is a valued part of the college experience. We know that Halloween is a treasured day of having fun with your friends. And we know that COVID-19 can spread through high-risk activities, such as parties, large gatherings, and when people do not physically distance or wear protective face coverings.

If you go to a party, you will no longer go to SUNY Morrisville. This is as direct as I can be. I am aware of some parties, including one as recently as this past weekend, that were incredibly reckless and dangerous in a number of ways. We are identifying those who hosted and attended and taking sanctions against them. We will continue to do so until they stop or everyone is sent home.

All testing samples collected last week (Oct. 12-16) for both wastewater and pooled saliva testing for COVID-19 have been received. A clarification about restricted movement is published online, and the Office of the Provost will soon send an update to faculty as well. Two pooled saliva tests from student samples came back positive, and reflex testing confirmed two individuals with positive tests. Those individuals are now in mandatory isolation. Employee samples all came back negative.