HARTSVILLE, SC (January 7, 2022) -- Yesterday, the Coker University COVID Task Force announced adjustments to its COVID policy, aligning current regulations with CDC and NCAA guidelines developed to address the omicron variant.
First and foremost, Coker University informed all students and employees that it has no intention to go virtual. Because of Coker's success is keeping positive cases so low in the fall as a result of its policy, Coker is committed to remaining open and remaining in person.
Effective Friday, January 7, 2022, Coker's revised policy includes:
- Both students and employees are only deemed "fully vaccinated" at Coker once they have been vaccinated AND have received the appropriate booster. Those who are eligible for a booster and choose not to get the booster will not be considered fully vaccinated and will be required to provide weekly negative tests.
- All students and employees who are not fully vaccinated must provide a negative test (conducted within 72 hours) by Friday, January 14 at noon to return to campus for the start of classes the week of January 17.
- ALL students and employees on campus, regardless of vaccination status, will need to be masked, indoors and out, between now and February 1.
- Per CDC and NCAA guidelines, the quarantine period for positive tests is now five days. Those students and employees who test positive must return home to quarantine. If after five days a positive test has no symptoms, he or she can return to campus but must be masked for five more days (including those deemed fully vaccinated).
- Those who are fully vaccinated but are deemed "close contacts" can remain on campus if they test negative and have no symptoms, but must be masked for 10 days after last contact.
- No home tests will be accepted.
It is Coker's hope that we can keep positive tests to a minimum in the coming weeks, lift these adjustments soon, and return to our previous policies in February, as things return to normal on campus. The entire Coker community is committed to a safe, healthy campus.
Together, we are #CobraStrong.
