West Virginia University will extend requirements for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask indoors in all WVU System buildings and facilities across all campuses through Oct. 20, when public health conditions will be reevaluated.
The announcement is an extension of requirements put in place in September which were set to be reevaluated in early October.
Positive cases and quarantine instances involving WVU employees and students remain low when compared with COVID-19 cases across West Virginia, including a continued high rate of hospitalizations in our area and throughout the state.
A little over 71% of employees and almost 39% of students on the Keyser campus have verified they are fully vaccinated.
“We want to continue to be a good community partner to help further prevent the spread of the delta variant, and keeping these indoor mask requirements in place is the right decision given we have not yet seen a substantial decrease in hospitalization rates,” said Dr. Jeffrey Coben, dean of the School of Public Health and associate vice president for Health Affairs. “This move will also allow for the adequate assessment of the COVID-19 status on our campuses following the University’s Fall Break (Oct. 7-8).”
Everyone entering campus buildings and facilities on all campuses - including any classroom, lab or venue being used as a classroom - must wear a mask properly above the nose and keep it on while inside. Members of the WVU community do not need to wear a mask indoors when in personal office spaces, in personal vehicles, when eating or drinking, or while engaging in fitness activities. For individuals who are fully vaccinated, masks are also not required in meetings of 10 or fewer people, or on residence hall floors and rooms.
Masks continue to be required on all College transportation through Jan. 18, 2022, under federal guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration.
Employees and students who are not properly following health protocols and requirements may receive disciplinary action through Student Conduct or Talent & Culture.
Vaccination and testing resources specific to Potomac State College
WVU strongly encourages everyone to be vaccinated and to verify their vaccine status at http://myhousing.wvu.edu.
Free vaccine sites in Keyser include:
- CVS Pharmacy, 45 South Mineral Street, (304) 788-3443
- Med-A-Save Pharmacy, 818 South Mineral Street, (304) 788-6010
- Walgreens Pharmacy, 839 South Mineral Street, (304) 788-5931
- Walmart Pharmacy, Located in the Walmart Supercenter, 148 US Route 220, (304) 788-8170
- Mineral County Health Department, Wednesdays, 541 Harley O. Staggers Drive. Other days by appointment, (304) 788-1321
Other vaccination opportunities can be found at vaccines.gov. Vaccines continue to be readily available across the country.
Regarding COVID-19 testing, the local Mineral County Health Department is offering the community free COVID-19 testing as follows:
Mondays
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Church-McKee Arts Center parking lot
Wednesdays
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Mineral County Health Department
541 Harley O. Staggers Drive
Keyser WV 26726
Community testing through the MCHD is open to WVU Potomac State College students, employees and residents of Mineral County. Individuals who wish to be tested must bring identification (a driver's license or proof of address) to the testing site. Face masks and physical distancing are required.
Testing and vaccination information for students and employees at WVU Potomac State College can be found on the WVU Keyser Return to Campus site.
The University encourages all students, employees and visitors to continue physical distancing when possible and wear a mask in crowded spaces – even when outdoors.
Stay informed
COVID-19 updates are available through WVU’s public dashboardon the. Return to Campus website which features daily testing information updated by 2 p.m., as well as vaccination verification rates, isolation and quarantine data updated each Wednesday by 2 p.m.
Visit the Return to Campus website for more information and the latest COVID-19 updates. Contact covidvaccine@mail.wvu.edu or returntocampus@mail.wvu.edu with any questions.
-WVU PSC-