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West Virginia University Research Coronavirus Information
What You Need to Know About Coronavirus
For more information and continuing updates please visit coronavirus.wvu.edu.
Please review WVU & WVURC's Return to Campus Guidelines.
Additional Alternative Work Arrangement Information.
What you need to know to stop the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that rapidly spreads from person to person and causes symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, fever or chills, fatigue, muscle aches, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Scientists, health officials and medical professionals at WVU and around the world are working at unprecedented speed to help halt the spread of COVID-19 and to develop safe and effective treatments and a vaccine.
COVID-19 has upended daily life on campus and in our communities and has forced us to think differently and take specific health and safety measures to protect our communities. It is important to understand that some of our community members will contract the COVID-19 virus. Because of this, all of us play a role in protecting the health of others and ourselves.
Updates
July 7, 2020
WVU outlines health and safety protocols for the Return to Campus
West Virginia University leaders Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Rob Alsop and Drs. Clay Marsh and Jeff Coben sent a letter Tuesday, July 7 to the campus community outlining safety procedures for students’ return to campus scheduled for Aug. 19.
To read the full letter, visit WVU Today.
June 16, 2020
WVU outlines additional safety protocols for return to campus
Rob Alsop, vice president for Strategic Initiatives at West Virginia University, detailed fall campus safety plans for Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser in a letter to the WVU community Tuesday (June 16):
Dear West Virginia University Campus Community,
As we look forward to returning to our campuses in Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser this fall, your well-being – and the well-being of our communities – is our top priority. In May, we began the phased return of research on our campus. This summer, we are taking another step as campus service workers and many others return to work in preparation for the fall. Just as we’ve started making plans for an engaging and safe academic experience, we are also making plans for campus safety, including cleaning, building protocols, dining and transportation. With that in mind, we want to share what you can expect when you return to campus for education and/or employment.
Read the full letter at WVU Today.
June 8, 2020
WVU provost discusses academic plans for fall return
West Virginia University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maryanne Reed outlined plans for the academic calendar, and course adjustments to maintain the health and safety of the campus community in a letter Monday, June 8.
Dear West Virginia University Campus Community:
Last week we announced the re-opening of our West Virginia University campuses for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year. As you prepare your own return to campus, I imagine you’re feeling a mix of emotions — excitement, perhaps a little anxiety, as well as a need for clarity about what the campus experience will be like this fall. I believe you will find answers to most of your questions as we roll out detailed information over the next several weeks.
As Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, I serve as the University’s chief academic officer, overseeing academic policies, faculty development and culture, academic facilities and budget, and global engagement and community outreach. But above all, my office is responsible for working with faculty to provide a high-quality and relevant academic experience for our undergraduate and graduate students across all campuses.
Read the full letter, and learn more about the Return to Campus.
April 8, 2020
Guidance on Illness Reporting Procedures for COVID-19
With the influx of individuals returning to campus over the next few weeks, guidance has been issued regarding what to do if students, faculty or staff feel ill or believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Students who feel sick or believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 can find additional information in the Health Information section on Students page.
Faculty, Staff, Graduate Assistants, post-doctoral fellows and other employees who feel sick or believe they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 can find information about what to do in the Health Information section on the Faculty and Staff page.
If you are currently awaiting COVID-19 test results, please self-isolate until results are final. If you have received a positive test result, please continue to self-isolate per CDC guidelines. Local health department authorities will be in contact with further guidance.
Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Check the WVU Coronavirus website frequently for updates. You may also email coronavirus@mail.wvu.edu with questions.
No in-person classes through summer, Gee announces in letter praising WVU community's COVID-19 response
As the pandemic continues to carve a path of uncertainty, the safety of the WVU campus community remains the utmost priority. Therefore, the University has made several decisions as the summer months approach, including moving summer term online and canceling events and camps through June 30.
Additional details can be found in President Gee's full announcement.
March 26, 2020
Gov. Justice names WVU’s Clay Marsh to lead COVID-19 efforts for West Virginia
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice recently named Clay Marsh, M.D., West Virginia University’s vice president and executive dean for Health Sciences, the state’s COVID-19/Coronavirus Czar during a press conference at the Capitol Complex in Charleston.
“I have solicited WVU, and they have agreed to loan us the services and expertise of Dr. Clay Marsh, so I am appointing him as our COVID-19/Coronavirus Czar,” Gov. Justice said. “Dr. Marsh has done an incredible job, as have all the members of our team, to guide us through this challenging time and him coming on board full-time adds one more layer of experience and knowledge.”
Marsh was asked to take this role, supported by West Virginia University, to coordinate activities related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
March 23, 2020
Gov. Justice orders West Virginians to stay home
To further combat the spread of COVID-19 in West Virginia, Gov. Jim Justice issued a “Stay At Home” order, directing all West Virginia residents to stay at home and limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs.
The order will go into effect beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at 8 p.m. and will remain in effect until terminated by subsequent executive order.
March 18, 2020
WVU will not hold in-person classes this semester, campus shuts down with all work remote
West Virginia University and its divisional campuses in Keyser and Beckley will extend alternative delivery of classes through the rest of the semester in response to the continued threat of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Additionally, all employees – except for those needed to keep online operations running and a select few others – must work from home, and residence halls will remain shuttered.
“It is clear the pace of this pandemic will only continue to grow across the United States,” President Gordon Gee said. “Our medical experts share that there is little chance of it slowing down – unless we quickly and accurately implement measures that can impede the community spread and ‘flatten the curve.’”
The University previously had extended spring break a week, and, effective March 30, ordered almost all classes to move to alternative delivery, primarily online, along with closing residence halls and University apartments, prohibiting students from returning to campus until notified.
As the coronavirus has spread, however, public health officials have suggested the pandemic may last well past the scheduled end of the semester in mid-May, leading the WVU administration to recommend to the Board of Governors that the current plan continue at least through the end of the semester.
The Board unanimously approved the recommendation at a special emergency meeting on Wednesday.
“This was a carefully considered decision, but in the end is the only responsible one in the face of this worldwide pandemic,” Board Chair David Alvarez said. “Our state looks to WVU for leadership, and faced with the facts, there was no other choice. Our community’s safety and well-being come before everything.”
Gee announced the decision and changes in a letter to the West Virginia University community.
Please visit WVU Today for more information.
March 17, 2020
Gov. Justice details latest coronavirus precautions in statewide address
Gov. Jim Justice conducted a statewide address at the Capitol Complex in Charleston on March 17 to update West Virginians on the precautionary measures that are being taken in the interest of protecting the public from the potential spread of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
During Tuesday evening’s address , Gov. Jim Justice announced the state’s first positive case of COVID-19.
Latest DHHR COVID-19 testing numbers available here.The Governor announced that he has ordered the closure of all restaurants and bars beginning tonight, Tuesday, March 17, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. These establishments will be able to continue to operate carry out and drive-thru operations. Gov. Justice also announced that he has ordered the closure of all casinos beginning tonight at 11:59 p.m. More details will be released as they become available.
This comes after President Donald J. Trump issued a set of new guidelines Monday for all Americans for the next 15 days to slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes avoiding all social gatherings of more than 10 people.
For more information, visit the Office of the Governor's website.
For more information about COVID-19 prevention and more, call the State’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-877-4304 or visit Coronavirus.wv.gov .
March 13, 2020
Supervisor resources for alternative work arrangements and teleworking
As shared on Friday (March 13), West Virginia University is directing all supervisors to allow faculty and staff to flex their schedules or start working from home when possible to accommodate school closures and to further reduce the potential for community spread of COVID-19.
The Division of Talent and Culture encourages supervisors to be as flexible as possible and permit employees to use alternative work arrangements, such as teleworking, during this time.
To assist supervisors in these efforts, we have developed a website with guidelines and resources on alternative work arrangements and teleworking. We also encourage supervisors to work with their HR partner as they begin developing and implementing these plans.
Further, Information Technology Services continues to prepare enterprise access to the core systems at the University; however, this work is not yet complete.
In the meantime, employees should avoid using WorkSpace and those applications accessed through it (e.g., Mountaineer Administrative Processes (MAP), Banner Admin and Applaud (formerly MyTime and Leave)) when working remotely. All web applications will be available to employees working remotely, including:
We appreciate your flexibility during these unusual circumstances. Visit the Talent and Culture or Information Technology Services websites for more information. You also may contact your HR partner.
Contact coronavirus@mail.wvu.edu with any questions.