Breaking the bubble: COVID-19 safety
NOTE: While Dr. Ohl’s comments are directed at students, his advice is relevant to faculty and staff as well.
Infectious disease expert Christopher Ohl says that he’s been impressed with Wake Forest students this semester. “I wish I could personally thank each one of them for getting vaccinated and wearing a mask indoors,” said Ohl, who works at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist.
A high vaccination rate and student adherence to the campus and city mask mandate has kept the daily case counts displayed on the University’s COVID-19 dashboard in the single digits for most of the semester. Other university campuses, U.S. cities and some global destinations have had less success mitigating the spread of the virus.
However, the Wake Forest community must remain vigilant, especially during travel.
“When students break the Wake Forest bubble for Thanksgiving travel or for any other reason, they need to be even more diligent about wearing a mask and avoiding large indoor crowds than they do when participating in activities on campus,” Ohl advised. “I feel confident that the necessary safety precautions are in place and generally followed when traveling through airports, but once we reach our destination it is easy to let our guard down and give the virus an opportunity to spread.
“For extra insurance right after returning to campus a student could take an “at-home test” available at many pharmacies. If positive, they should alert the Student Health Service for confirmatory testing.” Read more
Categories: Guest Post
Updates from HR: COVID-19 vaccines, asymptomatic testing, face coverings
Wake Forest University Human Resources emailed the updates below to faculty and staff on July 28.
Vaccine Success
With more than 95% of colleagues completing the vaccine survey, we are approaching full vaccination status in several areas of campus. 
This will allow colleagues the freedom to work and connect without face coverings, if they choose. As importantly, this will protect the campus from highly contagious variants.
Vaccine Survey Closes August 2
The employee vaccine survey will close on Monday, August 2. Following that date, any updates to your COVID-19 vaccination status or records will need to be made directly in Workday. If you need to update your COVID-19 vaccination status, email askHR@wfu.edu for instructions.
Note: Supervisors or others on the team should not ask for or receive employee vaccination records.
Asymptomatic Testing Updates
The University continues planning for asymptomatic testing of those who are not approved to be unmasked in the workplace. Testing will be facilitated by WFBH staff in Benson Center. Faculty and staff testing will take place two days per week; student testing will occur on the alternate days. Start dates for testing and scheduling will be communicated in the coming weeks
I choose to mask, please don’t ask
There are many reasons why an individual may choose to wear a face covering on campus. For instance, they may be:
- Unable to get vaccinated due to medical or religious reasons
- Vaccinated and immunocompromised
- Vaccinated and living with unvaccinated children or family members
- Vaccinated and uncomfortable being unmasked in large gatherings
- Vaccinated and recently returned from travel
- Vaccinated and recently exposed to someone with COVID-19
Avoid making assumptions about the vaccination status of others and respect individual choices to mask.
View the full message, including frequently asked questions about vaccines and face coverings, on the human resources communications website.
Categories: Faculty News, Inside WFU, Staff News
Updates from HR: COVID-19, University Policy Library, student hiring and events
COVID-19 update
On Monday, the campus community received a message with key COVID-19 updates, including the lifting of some restrictions, a consolidated COVID-19 policy and a faculty and staff vaccine survey. Here are some key takeaways:
Lifting restrictions: All social distancing requirements and limitations on gathering sizes are lifted. Masks are optional for fully vaccinated individuals (except in specific settings). Those who are not vaccinated are expected to continue to wear masks indoors while in the presence of others. 
People may continue to wear masks for many reasons, and individual choices should be respected as we navigate this period of transition.
COVID-19 policy: Wake Forest has created a consolidated COVID-19 policy to replace the numerous policies governing University operations. Both the Sick and Care Leave and Vulnerable Employee policies will expire June 30, 2021. Eligible employees may request a medical accommodation using the ADAA Medical Accommodations Form.
Vaccine survey: Earlier today, Human Resources emailed all full- and part-time active faculty and staff with instructions for completing a vaccine survey to indicate their vaccination status, verify vaccination records and/or register their intent to receive a vaccination. Colleagues should complete this survey as soon as possible and before August 2. Read more
Categories: Faculty News, Inside WFU, Staff News
Updates from HR: COVID-19 vaccines, ResilientWake, TEDxWake, Fit for Business 5K
COVID-19 update
Beginning today, anyone 16 years or older is now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination in North Carolina. You must be at least 18-years-old to receive the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccines and at least 16-years-old to receive the Pfizer vaccine. 
Mass vaccination clinic April 10: A mass vaccination clinic will be held at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds on April 10, offering Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen single-dose vaccine. The University will provide shuttles to the Fairgrounds every 30 minutes starting at 8:30 a.m. and running until 5 p.m. Shuttles will pick up and drop off in front of the ZSR Library. Faculty, staff and students who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to register.
Second dose clinics: Throughout April, the University will be offering second dose clinics for those who received their first vaccine dose at an on-campus clinic in March. If you are scheduled to receive your second dose at an on-campus clinic but are unsure of your appointment date or time, please contact the Faculty and Staff Clinic at 743.223.4217.
ResilientWake: Thursdays in April
Join the Office of Wellbeing for their faculty and staff ResilientWake Workshop, a four-part series to learn how to develop and implement resilience skills into everyday life.
Register » pdc.wfu.edu
TEDxWake: April 10
The 2021 TEDxWake theme is “Spill The Tea,” which asks the audience to lean in, open their ears and find inspiration wherever it may land. This hybrid event is open to the general public virtually and to WFU students, faculty, and staff on Manchester plaza and free of charge.
Register » go.wfu.edu/spillthetea
Fit for Business 5K: April 12-18
The annual Fit for Business 5K will be held virtually this year and benefit the Chaplain’s Emergency Fund. Faculty and staff are encouraged to register as your gift of any amount counts toward your race registration.
Register » crowdfund.wfu.edu
New Staff Orientation: April 13
Newly hired University staff are invited to register for New Staff Orientation, which provides important information as you join the Wake Forest community.
Register » pdc.wfu.edu
School of Medicine in Charlotte
ICYMI: Leaders from Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Wake Forest University announced a 20-acre site in midtown Charlotte has been chosen for WFU’s second School of Medicine campus.
Read more » news.wfu.edu.
Categories: Events, Faculty News, Inside WFU, Staff News
Updates from HR: COVID-19 and vaccines, Asian Heritage Month, financial workshops
COVID-19 update
On Wednesday, March 31, Group 4 eligibility expanded to include all university faculty and staff, and students living in congregate housing both on and off campus. 
With more than 5,000 faculty, staff and students now reporting they have already been vaccinated, Wednesday’s vaccine clinic was the last first- or single-dose clinic to be held on campus for the coming months. Second-dose clinics will continue to be held on campus throughout April for those who received their first dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at an on-campus clinic in March.
We will continue to identify and communicate upcoming community vaccination opportunities, and the University has plans to coordinate transportation from campus to the mass vaccination clinic at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds soon. Those who have not yet been vaccinated should make an appointment with a community clinic, medical provider or local pharmacy such as:
- Forsyth County Public Health Department
- Wake Forest Baptist Health or Novant Health
- Walgreens or CVS
Once you have been vaccinated, please indicate that you have received a vaccine using the SneezSafe daily wellness screening survey. Even after being vaccinated, everyone is expected to continue to practice safety measures, including wearing a mask and social distancing.
Additionally, the Wake Forest community received a brief update earlier this week regarding the increase of gathering sizes on campus to align with N.C. Executive Order 204.
April is Asian Heritage Month
Throughout April, faculty and staff are invited to take part in upcoming Asian Heritage Month programs, coordinated by the Intercultural Center. Programs will have a specific focus on how to mitigate the effects of anti-Asian xenophobia, racism and discrimination – of which Wake Forest leaders addressed in this message to the campus community.
Learn more » interculturalcenter.wfu.edu
Read more
Categories: Faculty News, Inside WFU, Staff News
