The beginning of the Spring 2021 semester, alongside the gradual return of students to campus life, heralds new information and protocol regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccinations. Winthrop Interim President George Hynd issued a campus-wide statement by email on Jan. 13 that outlined the current status of vaccination for Winthrop community members.
“Distribution is now being directed … from the federal government to hospitals and pharmacies,” Hynd said in the email. “There are good reasons for this as many previously considered community dispensing sites would be challenged to
store the vaccine safely and track two-dose vaccinations.”
“If the vaccine becomes available through your primary care provider, hospital system, or pharmacy, I encourage you to get the vaccine that way as soon as possible.”
“There is an effort underway for a community vaccination site that Piedmont Medical Center will organize at an off-site location to be announced. Winthrop and other entities in the community are being asked to help staff volunteer positions for
this clinic. I will share more about this as information becomes available.”
Hynd specified in his address that the state does not require anyone to receive the vaccination and that very few Winthrop department employees are currently eligible to receive vaccinations.
“The only Winthrop departments eligible to receive the vaccine at this time under Phase 1a are Health Services and Campus Police because it is reserved for those healthcare workers; ‘at high risk of exposure and mission-critical to the overarching goal of preventing death… and residents and staff of long-term care facilities,’ … as well as for first responders,” Hynd said, citing information from SCDHEC regarding the South Carolina COVID-19 Vaccination Plan.
Hynd also noted that due to specific language under government-issued medical vaccination procedures, workers in the Human Nutrition and Athletic Training departments are not considered to be a part of the “high-risk” group.
“Our reading of the intent of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and DHEC’s Phase 1a vaccine distribution rationale was it would cover healthcare professionals practicing under provisional licenses (graduates and
post-doctoral students pending board examination) in primary critical care with high risk of exposure environments where staffing numbers were stressed by high COVID-19 positivity rates,” Hynd said.
Winthrop community members were informed on Nov. 6 through an address by President Hynd that students intending to attend in-person classes and/or live on campus would be required to submit negative COVID-19 tests prior to coming onto campus. Although many students have already completed and/or submitted the required negative COVID-19 tests to return to campus, the Winthrop Coliseum will continue to serve as a free COVID-19 testing site throughout the Spring semester.
“[Winthrop Coliseum testing] is first come first served Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM,” said Director of Health and Counseling Services Jackie Concodora. “Results are usually provided within 24 hours but could take up to 48 hours.”
“Registration is only required once but it is strongly recommended to download the Aura app to have easy access to all test results per test date. Health Services will continue to offer diagnostic (student must have symptoms or be a close contact) COVID tests by appointment only through the Patient Portal.”
Despite Winthrop requiring students to submit negative COVID-19 test results to return to campus, university faculty and staff are not required to do the same, though it is strongly recommended.
“While we are not requiring a negative test result for you to come back to work, I am strongly recommending that faculty and staff avail yourselves of the free testing offered through DHEC at the North lot of the Winthrop Coliseum. As you
are likely aware, public health advice is clear that if you are out and about in the community, you should be getting tested regularly even without symptoms,” Hynd said in an email addressed to Winthrop faculty and staff.
Winthrop sophomore math major Ashe Hayes professed her own disapproval of the differing standards between faculty/staff and students.
“I think they should either require everyone to or no one,” Hayes said. “If students have to get tested, then so should faculty and staff.”
“I think that it isn’t a bad idea but if you’re going to require students to get a mandatory test, then those who work on campus, especially those who come in contact with students frequently, should as well.”
Photo by Wren Brooke
