Spring 2022 COVID-19 Protocols for the Residence Halls
Happy new year! We look forward to your arrival. With the Omicron variant surge in our area, we want you prepared to live on campus this spring. Students living in our residence halls should come to campus with a plan for where they will stay if they need to isolate or quarantine and help the MSU community to be as safe as possible from COVID.
1. Face Covering or Mask Required - Face covering or masks are required to be properly worn inside all university buildings through February 1, including the residence halls except when in your room. This includes hallways, restrooms, and common spaces within your building. This is in effect during the move-in process as well. Regardless of your vaccination status, please come to campus prepared to wear a mask whenever you are inside any building.
This requirement is in place through February 1 for all students, faculty, staff, and visitors and will be revaluated once the university receives guidance from MSDH and federal public health officials.
2. Have a Plan - Students living in our residence halls should have a plan for where they will stay if they need to isolate or quarantine. As was the case in fall 2021, anyone testing positive for COVID-19 will need to isolate for at least 5 days. You cannot isolate yourself in your residence hall room. You must vacate your residence hall and go home or to another off-campus location during the isolation period. MSU has a very limited number of isolation spaces for students living in residence halls with extraordinarily extenuating circumstances.
3. Testing is Available - In addition, we urge you to get tested for COVID-19 before you return to campus. We will offer free, drive-thru testing on Thursday, January 13; Friday, January 14; Monday, January 17; Tuesday, January 18; and Wednesday, January 19 at the Newell Grissom Circle Drive if you are unable to get tested before you return. Testing will be available from 9 am to 4 pm, no appointment is needed. This testing is for asymptomatic people only.
If you are sick, please call 662-325-2055 to make an appointment at the Longest Student Health Center to be tested there.
For more details about what to do if you are COVID isolation or quarantine status, guest policies, etc. please visit our housing COVID website at https://www.housing.msstate.edu/covid-19/.
Please do your part to be a responsible citizen of our community. Wear your mask or face covering properly in the halls, get tested if you have symptoms or are exposed, and be safe. We will get through this together. We look forward to a great spring term.
Resources:
• Longest Student Health Center, COVID-19 Hotline 662-325-2055
• MSU COVID resources - https://www.msstate.edu/covid19
• Cowbell Well - https://www.msstate.edu/covid19/students/cowbell-well
• Mississippi State Health Department - https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html
• CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Hail State!
Dei Allard, Ed.D.
Executive Director