The University is closely collaborating with health districts across Idaho to stay informed about local spread of COVID-19. Weekly updates about the number of positive cases will be shared on the Roaring Back website on Wednesdays. Idaho State has been notified of 19 positive cases of COVID-19 occurring between July 15 and July 21, 2020, on the Pocatello campus. The majority of these individuals reside in on-campus housing and/or are involved in Idaho State Athletics. This represents an increase in the number of cases the University was aware of compared to weeks prior. Additionally, a single employee case was reported to the University during this same timeframe on the Meridian campus. Affected individuals were instructed to self-isolate.

Close contacts were identified by the University and/or Southeastern Idaho Public Health and instructed to quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms in accordance with CDC guidelines. Roommates of positive cases living in campus housing were relocated into separate spaces to quarantine. The University is closely monitoring individuals for disease spread in consultation with Southeastern Idaho Public Health. If you believe you've had close contact with an individual who tested positive, but you were not contacted by the health department, please contact the University Health Center for guidance. 

Names or other identifiable information of positive or symptomatic individuals will not be released to the campus community at large. Contact tracers receive training on maintaining confidentiality, and every effort will be made to protect private health information while at the same time enhancing campus safety.

Those in close contact, which we define as being within six feet for more than 10 minutes of a person with COVID-19, should self-quarantine for 14 days from the last exposure. Persons feeling ill with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and contact their primary care provider for guidance. To assist individuals with decision-making when they are ill or potentially exposed, the University will continue to provide updated guidance on the Roaring Back website. Additionally, members of the campus community with specific questions can email COVID@health.isu.edu or call (208) 282-2705 for direction.

Idaho State University will host two University-wide virtual town hall meetings on Tuesday, August 4, at 10 a.m. and Wednesday, August 12, at 1 p.m. to discuss COVID-19 and the upcoming fall semester. The virtual meetings are open to the entire campus community and will be streamed live and archived on YouTube .

Every Idaho State University student, faculty, and staff member has a shared responsibility to practice healthy behaviors and follow established safety guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Together, we can protect our campuses, families, friends, and communities. In an effort to limit the virus from spreading in our communities, Idaho State is actively monitoring the COVID-19 situation in our communities and will continue to provide updated guidance, as necessary.