BUCSAFE Update from the President

By CSU Media | February 17, 2022

Our campus has continued to see an overall downward trend of COVID-19 cases. Praise God for that! Due to that consistent decrease, we reverted back to full in-person learning on Monday. This does not mean that we can throw all caution to the wind, however. Community transmission remains at the high level in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties, so please continue to follow our BUCSAFE guidance as we prayerfully watch numbers drop even more.

*NAATs – Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests, a type of viral diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 30). Covid-19 county check tool. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 17, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/more/aboutcovidcountycheck/index.html.

Many more in our CSU Family have received their vaccine or, unfortunately, caught the virus. If you fall into either of those categories, please upload your proof of vaccination or a positive COVID test result from the last 90 days to our Community Immunity portal. We are still pushing to our goal of at least 70% immunity on campus. The faster we reach that goal, the quicker we can reach other milestones like ending mask requirements in indoor spaces on campus.

I still look forward to the day we can celebrate the end of the pandemic with that mask-burning party I’ve been longing to have.

Our Numbers

Here are our numbers as of February 16, 2022:

TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN ISOLATION: 24
Of these 24 students, 3 are being housed on campus,  and 21 are isolating off campus. 20 are confirmed positive.
TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN QUARANTINE: 24
Of these 24 students, 3 are being housed on campus,  and 21 are quarantining off campus.  
TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN ISOLATION: 5 (5 confirmed positive)
TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN QUARANTINE: 4

ISOLATION is reserved for actively symptomatic or known positive cases, and QUARANTINE is reserved for those who have been identified as a close contact of someone who is positive or who has symptoms. People in QUARANTINE are NOT ill – we are simply watching them to ensure they do not become symptomatic. LEARN MORE

Community Immunity Status

As of February 16, 2021:

Students: 50%
Faculty and Staff: 90.8%
TOTAL: 57.9%

Our goal is to reach 70% community immunity on campus, which includes proof of vaccination and/or evidence of natural immunity among those who have recently been infected with COVID-19.  Natural immunity includes those who have had a positive COVID test in the last 90 days.

Health Resources

We had a great turnout at last week’s vaccine clinic hosted by DHEC. If you missed out and are still in search of COVID vaccination, you can easily make an appointment at a local pharmacy. The closest one to CSU is the CVS on University Boulevard.  

If you need a test, MAKO Medical offers free, on-site PCR testing in the football stadium parking lot each weekday from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.   

Our on-campus healthcare partner, Fetter Health Care Network, will be in the Student Center lot every Wednesday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. In addition to walk-up appointments for your medical needs, Fetter offers immunizations and rapid testing with advance notice. To book vaccines, COVID tests, or to schedule an appointment off campus, call 843-466-6129.  

Please continue to reach out to Dr. Laurel  Glover  if you’re experiencing symptoms, have been exposed to the virus, or otherwise find it necessary to pursue testing. Do NOT go to class or to work if you feel sick.  Take care of yourself and others by staying home.  

Guideline Reminders

EVENTS: Masks are still required in all indoor facilities on campus. In planning any university-affiliated event on or off campus, employees and students must submit their proposal at least two weeks prior via the Event Form. Please do not email your event to the task force. It is important to submit via the application link in order to receive a timely response.  

MISSION TRIPS: If you are planning a trip over Spring Break or this summer, submit your proposal via the Event Form as well.

Stay #BUCSAFE

In two weeks and two days, many of you will have a much-needed and much-deserved break! Like Luisa in Encanto, you may be feeling a great deal of pressure that others know nothing about. Except God knows. He knows your heart and your burdens and the general stressors that you encounter. You’re not meant to carry it alone. You’re a child of the Most High God, so “give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7, NLT).

Keep doing what you’re doing – for the good of others and the glory of God!