Eau Claire County COVID-19 webpage details vaccine information
UW-Eau Claire continues to work closely with the City-County Health Department to determine when vaccines can be available for our faculty, staff and students. Watch your email, this newsletter and the university website for more information as vaccines become more readily available this semester. As information about COVID-19 vaccines continues to evolve, an excellent source of information about eligible populations and how individuals can make a vaccine appointment at area health care providers can be found on the Eau Claire County COVID-19 website. A page detailing the vaccination phases and a link to setting up an appointment with your health care provider can be found here.
Parking reminders for those visiting Zorn Arena Testing Center
Parking permits are required for faculty, staff and students in the Hibbard parking lot. For those being tested in Zorn Arena, permits are not required in the designated 30-minute COVID-19 testing stalls. As thousands will be tested each week, please consider using alternative modes of transportation when possible. Permit holders are asked to park where their university permits are valid. Parking regulations apply and are being enforced.
Expanded testing hours available at Zorn Arena this weekend
The Zorn Arena Testing Center will have special operating hours this weekend (8 a.m.-5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday) to allow students and employees the opportunity to take their antigen tests prior to the start of the semester. Students living off campus who are 100% online and will not be coming to campus this semester are exempt from the antigen testing requirement. Students at UW-Eau Claire – Barron County also will have access to antigen testing on the university’s campus in Rice Lake. Complete details on testing hours and requirements for all Blugolds can be found here.
COVID-19 pages added to website for students, employees and the community
Updated content on COVID-19, including an overview of spring semester testing protocols, frequently asked questions and information about community testing that begins next week can be found on the university’s COVID-19 Updates webpage. UW-Eau Claire announced on Monday that community antigen testing will be available to the Eau Claire community on Tuesday evenings and weekends in February at the Zorn Arena Testing Center.
Blugold Flight Plan in place for spring semester
The Blugold Flight Plan, which was launched at the beginning of the fall semester, remains in place as we begin the spring semester at UW-Eau Claire. For new students and faculty and staff who may not be familiar with the Flight Plan, please visit this webpage to learn all about the guidelines and expectations for all Blugolds. The Flight Plan details the need to always wear a mask on campus, maintain physical distancing of 6 feet, wash your hands regularly and monitor your health daily through the Blugold Protocol app. You can find informational videos and need-to-know information to ensure you can “fly right” this semester.
Blugold winter sports seasons begin Feb. 1
The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Council of Chancellors voted unanimously to begin winter sports competition the week of Feb. 1, with all schedules featuring competition against only conference opponents. Spectators will not be allowed at WIAC events during the winter sports season. All contests will be conducted in accordance with NCAA Division III regulations, as well as institutional, state and local health and safety guidelines. While students and the public will not be able to attend the events in person, you can stream all the games and meets. On game day you can go to Blugolds.com to watch your favorite teams on your phone or computer.
Students with nursing skills can earn tuition credit for helping fight COVID-19
UW System President Tommy Thompson announced last month that students with nursing skills can receive a $500 tuition credit by helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualified students who are enrolled in the spring semester at a UW System school like UW-Eau Claire must work a total of 50 hours in a clinical setting such as a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility or state or local health care facility between Dec. 1, 2020, and Feb. 1, 2021, to be eligible for the tuition credit. Students must meet health care licensure and certification requirements to be eligible for the credit, and they must work for a minimum of 50 hours to qualify. Interested students can connect with local agencies and employers through Handshake, the online job platform utilized by students in the UW System. After working the required hours, students must obtain a verification letter from their employer. Additional details on templates for employer letters will be shared with students in January. Letters will not be reviewed prior to the deadline of March 31, 2021, and the $500 tuition credit will be applied to student accounts near the end of the spring semester. The media release on the program can be found on the UW System website.
Vital Statistics
(as of noon Thursday, Jan. 28)
Confirmed Cases of COVID-19
Worldwide: 101,706,193
United States: 26,198,368
Wisconsin: 585,600
Eau Claire County: 10,748
Barron County: 5,184
Wood County: 6,718
UW-Eau Claire COVID-19 Dashboard
Look for the next Blugold Flight Plan newsletter on Feb. 4.
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