This periodic update is intended to keep you informed of the latest developments from our Protect the Nest Team. Please visit www.otterbein.edu/covid19/ for additional general and student-related information. If you have questions or concerns, contact the COVID Hotline at covid@otterbein.edu.

Vaccine Clinic on Campus THIS FRIDAY

Appointments are available for a FREE on-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 13, at the COVID-19 testing site at 172 W. Main Street. The vaccine will be the Johnson & Johnson one-dose vaccine. Please know that ALL vaccines currently offered in the United States are effective against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19, including the Delta variant. Register for this event at https://armorvax-app.azurewebsites.net/Home/Invitation?code=T8H-PR5 

Drawing for Vaccinated Students

All vaccinated students who have their full vaccination by Sept. 1 and have reported their status with a photo of their vaccine card to covid@otterbein.edu will be automatically entered into a drawing for the following prizes:

• Tuition for Spring Semester 2022 (undergraduate or graduate) – Two awards for spring semester tuition up to 18 undergraduate credit hours or six graduate credit hours will be given. Employees and tuition exchange students are not eligible. This award replaces all other Otterbein institutional aid for the semester.
• $250 Otterbein statement credit – Four students will be awarded a $250 credit toward their Otterbein statement.

This drawing will include any students who are vaccinated at the on-campus vaccine event on Aug. 13.

Statistics You Should Know

We have been working closely with our partners at Franklin County Public Health and collecting vaccination data on our Cardinal community to make the best choices for fall semester. As we construct a fuller picture of the current COVID-19 situation, we would like to share the following data with you:

• As of Aug. 10, 2021, 83% of our employees are vaccinated. We are still awaiting responses from 50 employees to determine our final percentage.
• Less than 1% of vaccinated people have tested positive for COVD-19.
• Less than .004% of vaccinated people have been hospitalized for COVID-19.
• Less than .001% of vaccinated people have died due to COVD-19.
• Hospitals are reporting that of their recently hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 99% are unvaccinated.

Don’t Forget to Perform Your Daily Self-Assessment 
All members of our campus community must perform a daily self-assessment before coming to campus. Don’t come to campus if you have two or more of the following symptoms not associated with a chronic health issue: fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Download the self-assessment guide.

Campus Mask Policy

Effective Aug. 4, 2021, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear masks indoors in common spaces, including classrooms, the library, and residence halls.* To be effective, a mask must cover your nose AND mouth. Franklin County Public Health has advised that 6 feet of social distancing is not required for individuals who are wearing masks.

Additionally, we recommend that unvaccinated people wear masks outdoors when they cannot maintain 6 feet of social distancing, like at crowded outdoor events.

*If you cannot wear a mask due to health reasons, students should contact Kristy Drobney, kdrobney@otterbein.edu, or Kera Manley, kmanley@otterbein.edu, in the Academic Support Center. Employees should contact Scott Fitzgerald in Human Resources at 614-823-1130, 614-716-8632 or sfitzgerald@otterbein.edu. If a mask would create a safety hazard for employees, contact Tara Chinn at tchinn@otterbein.edu.

Otterbein’s COVID-19 protocols are developed in consultation with Franklin County Public Health and OhioHealth (Otterbein’s campus healthcare provider) and adhere to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Ohio Department of Health. Otterbein’s protocols are subject to change based on new guidance issued by these agencies.