Tag: Spring

  • Here are Three Tips for Seniors to help start a Spring Fitness Routine – Clarksville Online

    Here are Three Tips for Seniors to help start a Spring Fitness Routine – Clarksville Online

    Silver&FitCarmel, IN – Spring is in this article, and with it comes warmer weather conditions, for a longer time daylight several hours, and for quite a few, a motivation to spring into new actions, which includes work out.

    If you’re all set to kickstart a new health and fitness plan, in this article are a few suggestions to assist you get began.

    1. Uncover What Motivates You 

    Are you itching to get out into the sunshine for a wander? Are you keen to set up some friendly level of competition on the tennis or pickle-ball courtroom? With warmer climate, there are so a lot of outside possibilities.

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    But, if there is nevertheless also substantially “brrr” in the air for you or if you’re determined by additional structured exercising choices, these kinds of as power schooling or cardio courses, there are lots of on line workouts you can get pleasure from in the comfort of your home. For instance, the Silver&Healthy® Wholesome Getting older and Work out application gives 54 no cost Facebook Reside or YouTube classes just about every 7 days. Thousands of individuals take part in these beginner, intermediate, and innovative dance, yoga, tai chi, cardio, strength, and adaptability lessons. 
     
    If you’ve bought a hankering to get back again to the health and fitness center for the rowing, biking, jogging, fat education, or stair stepper equipment that most gyms present, now is a fantastic time to take the leap. Remaining all-around some others who are working out can be motivating. If you are not a health club member but want to obtain one, appear into the affordable, backed fitness center memberships readily available to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Health supplement members.
     
    Hundreds of leading-title gyms, health facilities, YMCAs, and boutique health golf equipment throughout the region belong to health and fitness networks that honor Medicare memberships. Contact your Medicare Advantage system immediately to learn what health and fitness systems they supply and what gyms in close proximity to you take part.

    2. Established Your Targets

    Are you prepared to kick spring off with a intention to achieve extra muscle mass, drop a number of pounds or increase your overall flexibility and harmony? Setting a aim and getting a training that supports it is a key to achievements. For greater flexibility and equilibrium, check out yoga or tai chi, for case in point. To establish muscle, you could alternate involving power education courses and absolutely free weights.

    To get begun, create down a handful of simple ambitions and cross them off your checklist as you obtain them. Do not be scared to start off smaller. Try out 10 minutes of a online video training, wander on a treadmill for 15 minutes or do 10 bicep curls with light-weight weights. Attaining tiny successes enhances your enthusiasm and your conditioning stage. As you progress, maximize your exercise routine intensity. 

    3. Join Forces with a Exercise routine Husband or wife

    Kickstarting anything new can be less difficult and additional enjoyable with a mate or accountability spouse. Set a common time to acquire a walk or jog with each other. Be part of a tennis group or fulfill a close friend at the gymnasium. Request your gymnasium about working with a particular trainer who can assistance you program an workout plan. Some applications even offer you users healthy ageing coaching, so you can join with a private health mentor by way of mobile phone sessions. Your wellbeing coach can help you program and accomplish a variety of well being plans. 

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    Constantly try to remember to check with with your physician prior to starting off a new exercise program and to discuss what styles of routines are safest for you.

    No matter whether you want to perform out at dwelling, get healthy at the gymnasium or show up at online courses, there are numerous styles of exercise packages that can support you kick begin your spring fitness plan. 

  • 11-Fitness presents tips on how to ‘Spring Back’ into fitness

    11-Fitness presents tips on how to ‘Spring Back’ into fitness

    11-Exercise: Ideas on how to ‘Spring Back’ into conditioning



    Finish OF THE 7 days. JAN:SO TIME FOR 11 Health. We’re JOINED AS Normally BY TEDDY SAVAGE AT World Exercise. Fantastic Morning, TEDDY. >> Great MORNG,IN JASON. JASON: I’m NOT AS ENERGETIC AS YOU. I am A Minimal Disappointed IN MYSELF. SPRING Commences TOMORROW. YOU WANT TO US SPRING Back again INTO Physical fitness. >> I WANT Everybody TO Recognize AS THE Weather conditions BREAKS ANDOU Y May well WANT TO Consider A STROLL IN THE PARK, YOU Could possibly CO ME Throughout A BENCH LIKE THE Just one IN THE Health and fitness center. I’m Going TO Clearly show YOU A 4-Exercising CIRCUITHAT T Performs THE Full System. THE FIRSTS I A SQUAT INTO A KNEE TUCK. I’m Heading TO SATQU DN,OW Travel MY KNEE Toward MY Chest. It really is A Wonderful Exercising TTHA Is effective MY Decreased Entire body AND STRETESCH OUT MY HIP FLEX ORS AND MY Reduced Back. I’m BRINGINGHE T KNEE Toward MY Chest. THE Up coming IS A One LEG HIP HINGE. One OF THE MY Suitable FTOO UP, Consider MY Suitable HAND AND In the direction of MY Still left TOE. HIINNGG AT MY HIP. THIS IS TO Stretch OUT MY HAMSTRING, MY GLUTES AND MY POSTERIOR CHN.AI IF YOU WANT TO Limit THE Selection OF Motion, GO Toward THE KN.EE YOU Won’t be able to JUST Function Lower Entire body, Baby. WE Received TA Strike Higher BYOD AS Very well. Convert Around AND Deal with THE BENCH. We are going to DO A Press-UP INTO A TRUNK ROTATION. I will DO IT Again. A Thrust-UP Toward MY Chest, SHOULDERS AND TRICEPS. AND A TRUNK ROTATION TO GET MY Abs AND OBLIQU.ES JASON, YOU KNOW, Newborn, THE MOST Vital Muscle IN THE Physique IS TH EHET.AR WE GOTTA DO SOME CARDIO. WE HAVE OUR Fingers ONHE T BENCH, Back Great AND FLAT, AND We are going to DO MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS LIKE THIS. THERE YOU HAVE IT. WITH SPRING COMING TOMORROW, IF YOU GO OUTO T THE PARK AND YOU Got A BENCH Suitable Right here, Try THAT CIRCUIT TO Focus on THE Total Body. JASON: I WAS Good Till THE TRUNK ROTATION, N.MA Convey to ME ABOUT THE Health and fitness center. Polices ARE Likely DOWN. ARE Individuals COMING Again IN Particular person? >> That is A Fantastic Concern. AND THEY Definitely ARE Mainly because Every person UNDERSTANDS Correct NOW IS A TIME TO RECLAIM YOUR SELF-Care. AT Planet FITNS,ES WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS Straightforward AS Possible. I am Observing Men and women Correct NOW GE TTING THEIR Exercise ON. They’re SWEATI,NG JASON AND Experience FITACULAR. That’s WTHA Exercise IS ALL ABOUT. >> Tell ME ABOUT THE Application You are Performing WITH. >> THE Totally free World Physical fitness Application, YOU CAN Obtain. It truly is LIKE Obtaining A Gymnasium IN YOUR POCKET. YOU CAN DO SOME OF THE Workouts I Showed YOU Now, OR YOU CAN Observe Together MYSELF AND MY FELLOW TRAINERS AND DO A Entire Work out. SO IF YOU Cannot GET INTO THE Health and fitness center, Download THAT No cost Earth Health and fitness App AND YOU CAN However GET YOUR Workout ON. JASON: NO EXCUSES, Correct, TEDD

    11-Conditioning: Tips on how to ‘Spring Back’ into health

    It truly is time now for our 11 Fitness section and we are joined by Teddy Savage from Earth Health. He has recommendations on how to “Spring Again” into health and fitness, and how to take care of people coming back again to the health and fitness center.

    It truly is time now for our 11 Exercise phase and we are joined by Teddy Savage from Planet Health and fitness. He has strategies on how to “Spring Again” into health, and how to handle men and women coming again to the health club.

  • Coping With COVID: Health Tips to Kick Off Spring

    Coping With COVID: Health Tips to Kick Off Spring

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    Whilst the coronavirus is listed here to stay, there is a great deal you can do to stop infection. Right here are five matters to take into consideration as we enter the spring and summer time of 2022.


    Picture courtesy of Polina Tankilevitch

    The lengthy-awaited start of spring also provides the beginning of allergy season. So, it is significant to comprehend the difference between COVID-19 infections and allergies. We know that sneezing and congestion of any form can make people today quite nervous, and becoming in the vicinity of somebody who has allergic reactions can lead to the typical citizen to immediately don a mask or even clear the place altogether. On the other hand, if the sneezing person is you, there are definite strategies to tell regardless of whether you are infected with the coronavirus or merely getting an allergy attack. With an allergy attack, there is no fever or aches. Some men and women declare to be achy in the spring, but this is unusual. Although there are exceptions, fevers do not commonly manifest with allergies. Reduction of style and scent are commonly relevant to a COVID-19 an infection and not allergic reactions. All in all, wearing a mask, washing your fingers and holding your length from all those exhibiting sneezing and congestion are good ways to keep away from an infection, even though most of individuals folks are in all probability just dealing with allergic reactions relevant to spring pollen.

    Whilst precautionary solutions are absolutely suggested, it is also a great idea to enhance your body’s capacity to defend from diseases. Working out aerobically is a excellent way to boost your immune process. A very simple walk of a single mile, jogging three miles or getting on a bicycle at least three periods a week will enable get your immune procedure in good form. If you have again or knee challenges, discuss to your health care provider. But if you are nutritious enough, exercise can definitely help. If you are concerned about amplified make contact with with people—after all, hotter temperature provides every person outdoors—stay inside and do 3 miles on an elliptical or 4 miles on a stationary bicycle to support preserve your immune program healthful.

    Enhancing your potential to battle illness is critical for the reason that any of the variants—even new ones—can arise and infect folks. So, never allow your guard down. Even even though the quantities have dropped considerably, the coronavirus is not long gone. In reality, both equally the delta and omicron variants will be with us endlessly. There are also other seasonal bacterial infections to stress about like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Borrelia (the bacterium that leads to Lyme Disorder). All of these bacterial infections can surface calendar year-spherical and confuse health professionals with signs and symptoms comparable to people of coronavirus.

    If you plan to travel this spring and summer season, look at donning a mask in closed spaces in which there is very poor air flow and where by you are unfamiliar with other people today. Buses, trains, subways and airplanes are fantastic areas to get COVID-19 and other allied health conditions. Due to the fact it is no longer strange to see men and women sporting masks in general public areas, you may well as nicely have on yours—it is greater to be risk-free than sorry. If your health and fitness center, household or gathering area has weak air flow and you uncover yourself in shut get hold of with folks, be pretty watchful. If possible, make absolutely sure that you know who is vaccinated and who is not. If you have waited this extended to get vaccinated mainly because you are involved about the protection of the vaccine, contemplate that tens of millions of people have been vaccinated devoid of issues. There are generally exceptions to every single rule, but you are not possible to be 1 of them, so if you are not vaccinated or boosted, act now so you can have a superb, harmless summer.

    As this virus winds down and gets to be endemic, nurture your immune process and handle it very well. If you have recovered from a significant an infection or just want to make sure you have a healthful, vibrant summer time, consume nicely and nurture your biome. You can do this by consuming yogurts and fermented food items. A acutely aware effort and hard work to glimpse at what you consume will go a long way. Restrict your ingestion of refined carbohydrates and focus on meals wealthy in protein, fiber (granola and large fiber cereals), wholesome fat and other micronutrients. Make guaranteed that your vitamin D degree is usual since the winter months have a tendency to sap the physique of this critical vitamin thanks to the absence of sunshine publicity. Make guaranteed that you have enough zinc and selenium as effectively. These are pretty very good antiviral micronutrients. You can get zinc from oysters, pumpkin seeds and beans, and selenium is found in mushrooms, Brazil nuts and all types of seafood.

    All in all, we could be near ordinary this spring and summer season if no new variants floor and we remain vigilant. So, get care of your overall body and your human body will get treatment of you.

    Dr. Robert G. Lahita MD, PhD (aka “Dr. Bob”) is a renowned medical professional and the Director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Ailment at Saint Joseph Wellbeing in Paterson, N.J. He is also the creator of IMMUNITY Solid: Increase Your All-natural Healing Ability and Live to 100, which is accessible for order right here.

  • AHA News: Ready to ‘Spring Forward’? Ease Into the Time Change With These 9 Health Tips – Consumer Health News

    AHA News: Ready to ‘Spring Forward’? Ease Into the Time Change With These 9 Health Tips – Consumer Health News

    WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2022 (American Coronary heart Association Information) — If you struggle with the switch to daylight saving time, you could experience enlightened to find out it is not just in your head. It entails an interaction among the clock, sunshine and your physique at a mobile amount.

    Planning in advance to change clocks forward a single hour, which occurs this year on March 13, could relieve the changeover, say slumber industry experts, who see the time transform as a critical well being threat.

    “We all get rid of an hour of snooze from time to time,” explained Dr. Beth Malow, director of the sleep division at Vanderbilt College Clinical Heart in Nashville, Tennessee. But daylight preserving time is more than that.

    For starters, “it is really not just that 1 hour,” Malow said. It can direct to far more.

    Higher faculty learners, for illustration, missing an typical of 32 minutes of sleep on weeknights following the change, for a net reduction of 2 hours, 42 minutes that week, in accordance to a modest 2015 study in the Journal of Clinical Snooze Drugs.

    In accordance to the American Academy of Sleep Medication, consequences of the time transform may possibly previous for months. Some of individuals effects seem severe.

    “People are much more vulnerable to having some styles of cardiovascular occasions for the reason that of the modify in time,” said Girardin Jean-Louis, director of the Middle on Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences at the College of Miami Miller College of Medicine in Florida. Study shows the threats of owning a coronary heart assault, stroke and episodes of an irregular heartbeat termed atrial fibrillation can enhance after the time adjust.

    The change to daylight conserving time differs from the jet lag that accompanies vacation mainly because of our biology, Malow claimed.

    Quite a few of our organs have interior clocks, she mentioned. A critical signal for all those entire body clocks, or circadian rhythms, is light. If you travel from Chicago to New York, you drop an hour, but a change in the light-weight cycle accompanies the improve. When it’s time to spring ahead, you do not get that cue.

    Young, more healthy individuals may possibly regulate more rapidly, Jean-Louis mentioned. But for more mature people, or all those with healthcare situations that influence their sleep, “it is really a substantially, considerably more durable task to attempt to get back again to schedule.”

    Though some defend daylight conserving time for economic and other causes, Jean-Louis and Malow, like the American Academy of Rest Drugs, explained a mounted year-spherical time would be the healthiest solution. But, as Jean-Louis said, “that is not heading to materialize at any time before long.”

    So, they made available this advice:

    • Just take snooze very seriously. Most older people require at the very least seven hrs a night, the Centers for Disorder Management and Avoidance suggests. More mature and young individuals may need a lot more. Still a 3rd of U.S. adults are sleep-deprived, CDC info display. The shift to daylight saving time can exacerbate that, Malow mentioned.
    • Make a gradual change. Most persons never modify until the day of the adjust, Jean-Louis mentioned. But if you begin a couple days forward, shifting bedtime by 20 minutes a day, “it truly is much easier for you to get accustomed to the new clock.”
    • Will not sleep in on Sunday. It can be tempting, Malow acknowledged. “But truly try to get up at your common time and get exposed to light, because that vivid gentle in the early morning will enable you wake up, and it will also assist you fall asleep a lot easier at evening.”
    • See the mild. Jean-Louis also emphasizes light-weight exposure in the morning. “You could wake up one hour early and acquire a walk struggling with east so that you have exposure to the sun as it rises.” All over again, starting a handful of days in advance of time is important, he explained.
    • Coffee? Alright, but be mindful. Malow and Jean-Louis are espresso drinkers. And both equally say it can be excellent for retaining you warn in the early morning. But only drink it early in the day. “If you are possessing espresso at about 3, 4 or 5 p.m., that is just not superior,” Jean-Louis claimed, “for the reason that it can trigger a cascade of dysregulated snooze cycles, which affect your capability to get a very good night’s rest.”
    • Do not use alcohol to support you drop asleep before. “That can truly interrupt your slumber in the center of the evening,” Malow said.
    • Restrict screens. The blue mild from screens is “variety of like currently being uncovered to daylight late at night,” Malow stated. So restrict time hunting at them, especially at bedtime. “Check out reading through a book or do anything that will not contain that light-weight. If you unquestionably have to be on your pc or cellphone, use configurations that support slice down on the light-weight.”
    • Aid the youngsters. Mother and father of tiny kids know that time adjustments can be tough. But most of the information for grown ups also is effective for youngsters, Malow mentioned. “Attempt to get them to bed a minor before the several times main up to it,” she reported. And “spend awareness to receiving them out in the bright mild as substantially as you can after we make the adjust so they can acclimate.”
    • Deal with persistent problems. If someone has a standard issue falling or remaining asleep, or if they have signs of sleep apnea such as snoring or extreme sleepiness, “they definitely should really get it checked out” by a health care provider, Malow mentioned. Sleep is essential not only for sensation good, “but it can make a incredible distinction on our wellbeing, such as our heart health and fitness.”

    American Heart Association News covers heart and mind well being. Not all sights expressed in this tale replicate the official place of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Coronary heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have thoughts or remarks about this tale, please e mail [email protected].

    By Michael Merschel

  • 10 soil health tips to help tackle weed control this spring

    10 soil health tips to help tackle weed control this spring

    Nutrient and weed manage ideas may well stop up wanting unique than common this year owing to offer worries, notes Hans Kok of the Conservation Know-how Info Centre (CTIC) in West Lafayette, Indiana.

    This would make it particularly critical to continue to keep soil well being in head.

    Kok points out that several growers are considering weed manage regimes and tillage methods that they have not used in several years. He says that a minor forethought can aid secure the gains in soil overall health they have built around those years.

    Contemplate these 10 guidelines as planting time techniques:

    1. Start with a soil overall health thoughts-established.

    “Consider the added benefits you’ve attained if you have been able to reduce tillage, no-until your crops, and build up soil natural issue around the many years,” Kok claims. “Keep them in head as you contemplate your chemical and cultural options this spring and you’ll have a improved chance of minimizing your losses.”

    2. Use your protect crops to best advantage.

    If you have deal with crops, you’re in advance of the sport, Kok states, due to the fact deal with crops can choke out weeds incredibly effectively. “Our 2020 CTIC/SARE Deal with Crop Study identified that about 40{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of the respondents documented that go over crops decreased their herbicide expenses in soybeans. For greatest result, allow them increase as considerably canopy as achievable to compete with weeds, then roll them or terminate them with a herbicide suitable for the species.”

    3. Check out your herbicide alternatives.

    If you never have deal with crops, look at the vary of herbicides that are readily available.

    “You may perhaps not have accessibility to each and every resource you ordinarily would, but there are plenty of successful herbicides out there. Talk to your crop adviser or neighborhood crop defense supplier for a refresher on the solution or mix which is very best for your weed stress,” Kok advises.

    4. Remain off moist soils.

    “The instinct is likely to be to get out and get started undertaking fieldwork as speedily as attainable,” Kok states. “But it’s important to choose a deep breath and make absolutely sure you’re not likely out when soils are way too damp to operate. That would be the quickest way to develop soil compaction — specially with today’s heavy machines — which could keep back again your yields for many years.”

    The additional you can keep away from doing work soaked soil, the superior off you are in the extended run.

    5. Lower tillage.

    “It’s simple to just determine to disk it all, just to be certain,” Kok admits. “But imagine it by means of. Does your weed stress demand from customers a highest response, or can you get by with strip-until, a chisel, or field cultivator? How deep do you actually will need to go? Bear in mind that the additional aggressively you till, the extra of your soil biology you disturb and the bigger the disturbance to the soil composition. Here’s another issue to observe the subsequent time you drive previous a highway constructing internet site: street development crews use disks to compact soils! That need to be a strong reminder that disking can create extensive-expression compaction troubles in your fields.”

    6. Imagine narrow.

    Conversing about source chains puts the aim on herbicides, but each corn or soybean field has a strong ally designed in from the begin: the crop canopy.

    Take into account planting corn or soybeans in slim rows to quickly shade out weeds, Kok indicates. “We’ve gotten excellent at imagining in conditions of chemical weed command, but we’ve received cultural techniques, far too. Furthermore, substantial populations on narrow rows will give you a large amount of residue this fall to kick-begin your effort and hard work to secure the soil surface and start rebuilding natural make a difference.”

    7. Seize the instant to include P and K.

    “There’s practically nothing about staying pushed into soil disturbance that is heading to make no-tillers feel excellent about mechanical weed control,” Kok notes. “But probably the silver lining is the possibility to include some P and K into the soil. If you have got to do some tillage since you are shorter on weed command possibilities, get coronary heart in the actuality that you could just take benefit of this exceptional possibility to get your non-mobile nutrients down underneath the soil surface area.”

    8. Examine your carbon contracts.

    “Tillage stimulates cardio action in the soil and burns soil carbon,” Kok describes. “It’s negative more than enough when it leads to you to shed soil organic matter. But it could be a difficulty if you are lawfully certain by means of a carbon credit rating agreement to capture carbon in the soil. Look at with the purchaser of your carbon credits now to kind out your options.”

    9. Approach for your following go over crop.

    “If you approach now on planting cover crops in the tumble and winter of 2022, you can get a big head begin on rebuilding soil tilth and organic issue, putting the destruction of this spring behind you,” Kok states. “That really should make you really feel improved about undertaking no matter what it is you have to do this spring and having you again into setting up your soils. And by wondering ahead, you could possibly even be capable to lock in go over crop seed at a additional favorable selling price.”

    10. Most crucial, suggests Kok: Do not stress.

    “We’re listening to that this year’s provide chain challenges should not be a long-expression issue, so I’m confident we will have our full suite of applications back shortly,” he states. “We just require to continue to keep a regular hand on the wheel, take a deep breath and continue to keep the future in intellect as we get as a result of this spring. Immediately after all, sustainability is all about being in it for the lengthy haul.”

    For more info on reducing tillage, running go over crops, and building soil health and fitness, take a look at ctic.org.

  • WVU provides updated COVID-19 guidance for spring 2022 semester opening | WVU Today

    WVU provides updated COVID-19 guidance for spring 2022 semester opening | WVU Today

    West Virginia University is committed to providing an on-campus learning experience as the spring 2022 semester approaches; however, with the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country and throughout the state because of the omicron variant, the University is implementing several updated campus health and safety protocols ahead of the start of classes that begin on Monday, Jan. 10.

    “Given the prevalence of the omicron variant and evidence that it likely is more transmissible than previous strains, including the delta variant, we are taking several measures to limit the potential spread of COVID-19 as students, faculty and staff return to campus,” said Dr. Jeffrey Coben, dean of the School of Public Health and associate vice president for Health Affairs. “Now more than ever, we are asking our unvaccinated students, faculty and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine and for those who are vaccinated to get a booster if they are eligible.”

    “It is imperative that we all do our part to protect ourselves and each other as we navigate this latest wave in the COVID-19 pandemic,” Coben added.

    Five key areas to be aware of changes include:

    • the definition of “fully vaccinated.”
    • mask requirement.
    • isolation procedures.
    • quarantine procedures.
    • free antigen self-test kit.

    Read through each topic thoroughly to understand how the guidelines have changed. If you have any questions after reviewing the new guidelines, visit the Return to Campus website for the latest updates. Questions related to COVID-19 and WVU’s health and safety protocols can be submitted or sent via email to [email protected].

    To best protect our campus and local communities, do not ignore symptoms of COVID-19. If you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please follow the health and safety protocols and do not report to campus for work or class. By personally taking the precautions necessary to protect yourself and others, we will keep our campus healthy and safe during this latest variant.

    COVID-19 vaccination 

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, data from recent studies in South Africa and the U.K. suggest that boosters significantly enhance vaccine effectiveness against infection of the omicron variant. Boosters also decrease the risk of severe disease, hospitalization and death for those who are vaccinated but become infected with COVID-19.

    Based on this information and guidance from public health officials and WVU medical experts, the University is updating its requirements for students, faculty and staff regarding COVID-19 and vaccinations.

    To be considered fully vaccinated at WVU, an individual now must have both:

    • Received their primary series of the COVID-19 vaccine (two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine).
    • Received a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least six months after receiving their primary series of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or at least two months after receiving the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine.

    Those on the Health Sciences Campus involved in patient care, including residents, fellows and students, are required to follow separate WVU Health System or other clinical provider’s policies, including those related to COVID-19 such as masks, PPE and vaccinations.

    Verifying a COVID-19 vaccination

    Students, faculty and staff will receive an email in the coming days with instructions and a link to verify their vaccination status, including their booster if eligible.

    All students, faculty and staff must verify their vaccine status by Friday, Jan. 28.

    COVID-19 vaccination clinics and dashboard

    The University highly encourages those who have not gotten their primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine or those who have not yet received a booster to do so as soon as possible. Vaccines continue to be readily available across the country.

    In partnership with the Monongalia County Health Department, WVU will continue to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout the spring semester at the WVU Student Recreation Center.

    All upcoming clinics will be posted at book.novelhealth.ai/MCHDC as they become available. Students, faculty and staff should monitor the site for the latest information and follow these instructions to schedule an appointment. Free parking is available in Area 49 and lot ST-4. 

    WVU Medicine Student Health has the Pfizer vaccine available for WVU students at its clinic in the Health and Education Building. Walk-in appointments are offered during regular business hours (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

    The Monongalia County Health Department is offering free vaccinations by appointment on most days at its facility at 453 Van Voorhis Rd. Anyone who wishes to be vaccinated can call 304-598-5119 to schedule an appointment. Other vaccination opportunities can be found at vaccines.gov.

    Given the change in requirements for students, faculty and staff to be considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 at WVU, the University’s public dashboard will be updated to report the vaccination verification rate on a biweekly basis beginning in early February for the Morgantown, Beckley and Keyser campuses.

    Mask protocols

    Omicron is a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 and can cause severe symptoms and illness, especially in those who are unvaccinated. As a result, the University is strongly recommending the use of KN95 masks which provide an additional protection. Layering of masks and surgical masks is also better than a single cloth mask.

    Masks will temporarily be required for everyone — regardless of vaccination status — indoors in all WVU System buildings and facilities beginning today through at least Feb. 1 when public health conditions will be reevaluated. The University is proactively making this move to assist in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and the omicron variant.

    Masks continue to be required for passengers on the PRT and WVU buses through March 18 under federal guidelines from the Transportation Security Administration.

    Masks are also required in clinical and patient care areas of the Health Sciences Campus.

    Additionally, masks are required inside the Mountainlair, Evansdale Crossing and dining halls except when eating. Masks are also required inside the WVU Student Rec Center except when exercising.

    Residence halls

    Individuals, upon entering the residence halls, are required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.

    Students and guests who are fully vaccinated can remove their masks in the residence halls if:

    • They are on a residence hall floor (including floor lounges). Note: There are some halls where a residence hall floor may be on the main level. Masks are still required in the main lobby/common areas of those halls. They can remove their masks once they are in the residential hallways. 
    • They are in a residence hall bedroom; however, a mask must be worn when responding/opening their doors. 
    • They are eating or drinking.
    • They are in a residence hall fitness center.

    Isolation procedures (for those who test positive for COVID-19)

    The CDC recently announced new recommendations for isolation and quarantine procedures. WVU has incorporated these recommendations and will now adopt the following procedures.

    Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status, must isolate for at least five days. This includes any positive PCR test or any positive rapid antigen test.

    Those individuals should remain in isolation until the following criteria are met.

    The individual is now:

    • At least five days from symptom onset and those symptoms have improved and has been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
    • Persons who continue to have fevers and/or symptoms that do not improve within five days should remain in isolation until they meet the two criteria described above.
    • Persons who test positive who never develop symptoms may discontinue self-isolation five days after the date of their first positive test.
    • All individuals should wear a well-fitted face mask for an additional five days following the completion of their isolation period when around other people.

    Students living in the residence halls who have COVID-19 will be isolated in Gaskins House. Non-residential students should isolate at their homes or residences.

    After completing isolation, students may return to classes and resume other activities on campus, but they must wear a mask at all times for an additional five days when in the presence of others. Similarly, on-site and hybrid employees may resume on-campus work after completing isolation but must wear a mask for five additional days while around others, including in residence halls common areas or when exercising in public facilities. Repeated testing is not recommended or required at this time.

    Quarantine procedures

    The CDC also updated the recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19.

    Individuals who have received a COVID-19 booster or completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last six months or received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last two months do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to COVID-19, but they should wear a well-fitted mask for 10 days after the exposure.

    Individuals who are unvaccinated or those who are not yet boosted but are more than six months out from receiving their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or more than two months out from receiving the Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine are required to quarantine for five days. These individuals must also wear a well-fitted mask for an additional five days following the completion of their quarantine period, including in residence halls common areas or when exercising in public facilities.

    Further, anyone who is exposed to COVID-19 — regardless of vaccination status — should be tested five days after exposure.

    If symptoms occur at any point during the 10 days following exposure, the individual should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms the symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.

    Testing and monitoring

    In partnership with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, WVU is providing students, faculty and staff with a free antigen self-test kit as they return from winter recess.

    The tests should be used if the student, faculty or staff member is exposed or develops COVID-19 symptoms.

    Students, faculty and staff must present their Mountaineer Card or employee ID to pick up a complimentary self-test and KN95 mask Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14 at the following locations:

    WVU Tech campus pick-up will be at the Student Life Office at 505 S. Kanawha Street during normal business hours.

    WVU Potomac State College residence hall students may pick up a self-test and KN95 mask during check-in on Sunday, Jan. 9. Faculty, staff and other students may pick them up Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Heath Center.

    COVID-19 testing will be available throughout the semester in partnership with the Monongalia County Health Department, which will continue to offer community testing opportunities for the WVU community. Visit https://www.monchd.org/ for more information.

    All WVU community members are required to report if they test positive for COVID-19 or are quarantining due to suspected or known exposure to COVID-19. In Morgantown, students and employees should report their positive results to [email protected].

    Testing and vaccination information for WVU Tech students and employees are available on the Beckley Return to Campus website.

    Similarly, testing information for students and employees at WVU Potomac State College can be found on the WVU Keyser Return to Campus site.

    Meetings and events

    The University asks that health and safety protocols be used during all in-person meetings and events through Feb. 1, when public health conditions will be re-evaluated.

    While strongly encouraged, masks are not required of individuals in private office spaces behind closed doors. With the mutual consent of the participants, masks may be removed in private meetings.

    Masks are strongly encouraged, but not required indoors at WVU Athletics venues during public events.

    COVID-19 module for new, incoming students

    New students starting at WVU this spring are required to take the COVID-19 education module by Sunday, Jan. 9. Those who are returning this spring do not need to retake the module.

    New students who are required to take the module should have received an email from [email protected] with additional details. Students should check their junk and spam folders if they did not receive the email with instructions for completing the module.

    Communications

    Visit the Return to Campus website for the latest COVID-19 updates. New information also will continue to be shared in MOUNTAINEER E-News for employees and Unews for students.

    Questions related to COVID-19 and WVU’s health and safety protocols can be submitted or sent via email to [email protected].

    -WVU-

    01/04/22

    MEDIA CONTACT: April Kaull
    Executive Director of Communications
    University Relations
    304-293-3990; [email protected]

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