West Virginia University plans to fully reopen its campuses this fall, according to school officials who attribute the decision to continued decreases in cases of the pandemic and the knowledge that vaccines are safe and effective.
COVID-19 numbers within the U.S. and West Virginia have significantly decreased as the number of vaccinations has increased, according to a press release from the university. As of June 14, there were 2,799 active COVID-19 cases in West Virginia, a decrease of 57 percent from this time a month ago.
The state is currently experiencing the lowest transmissibility rates since the pandemic began, according to data provided by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. More than 52 percent of West Virginians above the age of 12 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
This, coupled with proven preventative measures such as masks, physical distancing, self-symptom monitoring, COVID-19 testing, and good personal hygiene shows WVU students and employees have access to the tools to fight COVID-19 and the spread of the disease to others.
West Virginia University’s highest priority is to offer a fully in-person, on-campus academic and student experience this fall. Lessons learned from the pandemic will influence how the University approaches some activities and events moving forward. As always, the safety of students, faculty, staff, and guests will be an important guiding factor.
Unless noted, this information pertains to WVU campuses in Morgantown, Keyser, and Beckley, as well as the Health Sciences campuses in Martinsburg and Charleston.
WVU Medicine and patient care clinics located in Health Sciences have their own set of policies, procedures, and protocols for staff, patients, and visitors.
