Tests available weekdays to students, faculty and staff  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌  ‌
This week's essential COVID-19 information from BGSU Chief Health Officer Ben Batey

Watch BGSU Chief Health Officer Ben Batey's January 19 Video Update
This week’s COVID-19 dashboard, in this email and on the Forward Falcons website, outlines a drop in positive cases after the first week of being back on our campuses, as compared to the previous reporting period. We appreciate our students, faculty and staff for following the health and safety guidelines that are in place this semester. Lowering your individual risk level is making a difference.
Free COVID-19 testing is available in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union for students, faculty and staff. This testing is by appointment, with dates and times listed on the Forward Falcons website. If you develop symptoms, including mild symptoms, or have had a recent exposure, we encourage you to take advantage of this resource. It is free and readily available testing helps us to slow the spread of COVID-19 on our campuses. Make your appointment →
We are encouraged as more vaccines are becoming available. Similar to testing shortages at the beginning of the global pandemic, there is more demand than there is supply but we are moving in the right direction in a return to normalcy. BGSU cannot legally dispense the COVID-19 vaccine, but we are proactively working with our local health departments to support their vaccination efforts. While the majority of our BGSU community is not yet eligible, per Ohio guidelines, local health departments are working overtime to get every dose out as quickly as possible, which will hopefully mean expanded eligibility even sooner in our area. More information is available about vaccines at Wood County Health Department and Erie County Health Department.
We appreciate your flexibility and compassion for one another as we reopen our campuses safely. Thank you to all of our students, faculty and staff for all you are doing to keep our campuses safe and healthy.
Be well,
Ben Batey signature
Ben Batey, MPH, RN
Chief Health Officer

Schedule your free COVID-19 test
BGSU is offering free COVID-19 testing for students, faculty and staff as the spring 2021 semester begins. These tests will be administered by appointment only. Please continue to check the BGSU COVID-19 testing page and monitor your BGSU email for additional appointment availability.
Rapid Test
Results within 15 minutes.
Schedule your Rapid Test
PCR Test
Results within 24-48 hours.
Schedule your PCR Test

BGSU COVID-19 Response Hotline 419-372-3000
The BGSU COVID-19 Response Hotline is open, with staff available to answer questions regarding COVID-19 and related topics. Students, faculty and staff are also asked to email health@bgsu.edu or call the hotline to report a positive result to begin contact tracing. The COVID-19 Response Hotline is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Voicemails are checked regularly and returned on Sundays and holidays. To call the hotline, reach out at 419-372-3000.

Become a Wood County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Volunteer
Become a Wood County MRC volunteer and help with the COVID-19 vaccine distribution.
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds.
Wood County MRC volunteers also help with flu clinics and tornado response. Volunteers have also helped with non-emergency activities such as packing backpacks with school supplies for giving to families. Both medical and non-medical volunteers are essential with every MRC mission.

Wood County Health Department Logo
Community Talking Points
COVID-19 vaccines continue to be a scarce resource across the United States, and it will take time to provide vaccines to everyone who wants to receive them. Wood County's Phase 1B begins today for those age 80 and older.
Each week, the required age to be eligible to receive vaccines will be reduced by five years. This means that during the week of Jan. 25, people 75 and older will become eligible, along with people who have severe congenital or developmental disorders. During the week of Feb. 1, people age 70 or older are eligible, as are employees of K-12 schools that commit to in-person or hybrid education. For the week of Feb. 8, people 65 and older become eligible.
As information becomes available about the next phases, the Wood County Health Department will share details with all local news media contacts, as well as BGSU. Visit the Wood County Health Department vaccine page for more information and further details about each phase.

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, testing and self-report. Not all cases are residing in Bowling Green or Wood County and this includes cases reported at BGSU Firelands.
This Period:
65
52 Students
(73% of students live off-campus)
5 Faculty 8 Staff
1/11/2021 - 1/17/2021
Last Period:
183
170 Students
(163 Students off-campus)
4 Faculty 9 Staff
1/1/2021 - 1/10/2021
On-Campus Isolation and Quarantine
Isolation separates individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 from others to minimize the spread of the virus. 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.
Students Currently Isolated in University Housing:
6
95% beds available
As of 1/18/2021
Students Currently Quarantined in Residence Halls:
20
As of 1/18/2021
COVID-19 Testing
Includes screening testing of targeted individuals as well as open on-demand testing for students, faculty and staff who may be asymptomatic, symptomatic, or have had an exposure.
This Period 1/11/2021 - 1/17/2021
Tests:
1,083
Positives:
64
Positivity Rate:
5.9%
Ohio Positivity Rate:
17%
Cumulative since 1/1/2021
Tests:
4,767
Positives:
188
Positivity Rate:
3.9%
 
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