This week's essential COVID-19 information from BGSU Chief Health Officer Ben Batey

Watch BGSU Chief Health Officer Ben Batey's September 29 Video Update

We continue to monitor daily and weekly COVID-19 trends on our campuses, as outlined in the dashboard below and on the Forward Falcons website. This week, there has been a slight increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in comparison to our last reporting period, and, with increased cases comes an increased number of contacts who need to quarantine.

As a member of the BGSU community, there are steps you can take to lower your risk of being exposed to a positive case and needing to quarantine. You have control over how you interact with others throughout the day. Keep your close-contact social circle small. This includes roommates and close friends. Outside of your close-contact group, we encourage you to practice health and safety measures when interacting with others in our community. By wearing a face covering, keeping close interactions brief and maintaining six feet of distance while socializing, you will lower your risk of possible exposure and the need to quarantine.

If you have questions regarding COVID-19 or need support, please contact our team health@bgsu.edu. We want our campus community to stay social and stay safe. Thank you for all you are doing to keep our campuses as healthy as possible.

Be well,

Ben Batey, MPH, RN
Chief Health Officer

Get Connected on Campus

Getting involved in student organizations is a great way to connect, develop leadership skills, meet people and have fun. Student organizations are meeting virtually this fall. BGSU's student organization directory lists all contact information for organizations currently registered at BGSU.

BGSU Counseling Center Resources

During the pandemic, the BGSU Counseling Center is offering their services via telehealth at 419-372-2081. The Counseling Center has put together COVID-19 counseling resources to keep you up to date on COVID-19 and various ways to cope/offer support during this time.

Surveillance Testing and Contact Tracing

BGSU has implemented randomized surveillance testing for undergraduate and graduate students on the main campus. The program focuses on testing students who do not have COVID-19 symptoms (asymptomatic). Students randomly selected each week will be notified via their University email and/or text message.

Isolation and Quarantine Protocols

Know what to do if you test positive or have been exposed to COVID-19 by learning more about BGSU's self-isolation and quarantine protocols.

BGSU COVID-19 Response Hotline 419-372-3000

The BGSU COVID-19 Response Hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Staff can answer questions regarding COVID-19 and related topics. Students, faculty and staff can email health@bgsu.edu or call the hotline if they have a pending COVID-19 test, or to report a positive result to begin contact tracing. To call the hotline, reach out at 419-372-3000.

BGSU COVID-19 DASHBOARD

Positive Cases of COVID-19 Reported to BGSU

Includes positive COVID-19 cases reported to BGSU from health departments, medical providers, asymptomatic and surveillance testing and self-report. Includes two (2) positive student reported at Firelands College. Not all cases are residing in Bowling Green or Wood County.

This Period:

130

126 Students

0 Faculty 4 Staff

9/23/20 - 9/29/20

(72% of cases for this period were off-campus students)

Last Period:

116

114 Students

1 Faculty 1 Staff

9/16/20 - 9/23/20

(68% of cases for this period were off-campus students)

Cumulative:

407

401 Students

1 Faculty 5 Staff

8/20/20 - 9/29/20

On-Campus Isolation and Quarantine

Isolation separates individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 from others who are not sick to minimize the spread. Quarantine separates individuals who have been exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19 from the general public. All residence hall students are offered on-campus quarantine and isolation space. Students may choose to return home to a permanent residence.

Students Currently Isolated in University Housing:

85% beds available

As of 9/29/20

Students Currently Quarantined in Residence Halls:

As of 9/29/20

Surveillance Testing (9/21/20 to 9/29/20)

Randomized surveillance testing of asymptomatic undergraduate and graduate students.

Tests:

123

Positives:

Positivity Rate:

1.6%

Cumulative Asymptomatic Testing (8/20/20 to 9/29/20)

Randomized surveillance testing of students and targeted screening testing of asymptomatic individuals.

Tests:

720

Positives:

Overall Positivity Rate:

2.5%

BGSU A Public University for the Public Good