Weekly COVID-19 Update: October 15
Team,

I greatly appreciate your commitment to support the health and well-being of our campus community. Overall, the COVID-19 situation appears to be improving, which is due in large part to your continued adherence to our public health guidelines. But this improvement in the overall Covid rates does not diminish the seriousness of the disease on an individual basis. So we must remain vigilant in our reasonable efforts to curb the spread. In addition to this week’s situational update, I encourage you to regularly visit the University's Roaring Back website, which contains near-daily updates.
 
I again urge, in the strongest possible way, everyone who is medically able to get vaccinated. 
SITUATIONAL UPDATE
Our University saw another overall decrease in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases this past week. We are also continuing to see incremental improvements across the board in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, and Meridian. The new case trend is down in all three cities, however, Bannock, Bonneville, and Ada counties are still experiencing high community transmission rates. Our goal of safely maintaining in-person education for our students remains our top priority.

  • Idaho State will remain at Level White on all campuses. The operational modifications put in place last week will remain in place until at least Friday, October 22. The latest data will be reviewed next week to determine if the modifications need to remain in place longer. 

  • Earlier this week, the Health Committee updated the University’s event guidance and related health protocols. Courses and events that operated under an approved health exception last year (2020-21) should implement the previously used processes and procedures. You do not need to submit a new Health Exception Request. If reasonable adherence to the guidance posted on the Roaring Back website is not feasible, please submit a Health Exception Request Form.

  • Face coverings continue to be required indoors and at outdoor events when physical distancing is not possible.

  • As a reminder, in-person instruction should be maintained as much as possible. To enhance the safety of our instructional environments, faculty should develop seating charts for classrooms to effectively support contact tracing if positive cases are identified. Faculty should also continue to offer online, hy-flex, or supportive options for students who are ill or in quarantine.

  • In departments where physical distancing is not possible, offices need to consider rotating the on-campus presence of their employees. Remote work agreements are not needed for temporary telework due to our modified operational level. Decisions should be made in close consultation with leadership during this modified operational period.

  • Our on-campus COVID-19 Screening Program continues to randomly test faculty, staff, and students with an on-campus presence. If selected, you are required to participate unless you meet one of the valid exemptions. Individuals who are fully vaccinated will be exempted from the screening requirement.


  • For eligible individuals, booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine are available at the Bengal Pharmacy and Pond Student Union vaccination clinic. All higher education employees are eligible for boosters.
Thank you for continuing to support our students, the University’s educational mission, and the health of our communities.

––Kevin

Kevin Satterlee
President
Idaho State
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