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COVID-19
Keeping our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends safe is our top priority. As we gradually return to our campus, every Buckeye plays an important part in taking care of each other. We realize that this is a challenging time, but our strength has been and always will be people. The coronavirus is unlike anything we have seen, but we remain committed to providing our students a quality education. The Ohio State Newark campus remains open and focused on supporting student learning. We aim to maintain “business as usual” as much as possible with safety adjustments, while serving students and our communities.
Discussion between Wexner medical staff and the President of The Ohio State University while both are socially distanced and in masks. Image courtesy of The Ohio State University.

The Ohio State University's response to COVID-19 and resources can be found at SafeAndHealthy.osu.edu .

Safe and Healthy Buckeyes

COVID-19 Dashboard (paused)

The COVID-19 dashboard (paused) provides a regularly updated status on COVID-19 across Ohio and within the campus community. On Feb. 8, 2021, it was updated to provide a more complete picture of cases and positivity rates since the beginning of the university’s testing program. With this new version, users will be able to view the data going back to the 2020 fall semester as well as the most up-to-date numbers for the 2021 spring semester. The Ohio State testing data in the dashboard will be updated on those days when complete testing data is available for a 24-hour period during which surveillance testing was conducted. The university cautions against drawing broad conclusions from the initial data about the prevalence of COVID-19 on campus, particularly since the student data set includes symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

Dashboard update

Ohio State is pausing updates to its COVID-19 dashboard as of today, May 6, 2022. As previously announced, the university is shifting to a voluntary testing program as of the start of summer term, so testing volume and the overall on-campus population will be significantly reduced. Ohio State’s vaccination requirement remains in place for students, faculty and staff. Updated state data may be obtained through the Ohio Department of Health.

To access this data in an accessible format, download these Excel documents(link is external). For other questions, please contact CIO-TableauAdmin@osu.edu.

Dashboard Measures and Interpretations | Safe and Healthy Buckeyes

Data Notes: Some values on the dashboard may change as missing data or other data errors are identified and corrected. These data adjustments are part of the normal process of ensuring that the data are the most accurate representations possible. Student test result data are reported weekly during times of low test volume to ensure privacy protection and to maintain the reliability of dashboard data.

More information about this dashboard can be found on Safe and Healthy Buckeyes.

Recent Updates to COVID-19 safety guidelines

People jumping into the air while signing O-H-I-O. Image courtesy of The Ohio State University.
  • Vaccination rates: 93.2% of students, faculty and staff were partially or fully vaccinated as of Jan. 18. The student rate was 93.0% and the employee rate was 93.4%.
  • Testing and positivity rates for week 1: Ohio State conducted 18,540 PCR tests of students, faculty and staff from Jan. 10-14, with 1,822 positive tests (a positivity rate of 9.8%). Among students, there were 1,626 positive tests (a positivity rate of 9.9%).

PREVIOUS UPDATES

  • Aug. 11: Drs. Gibbs and Thomas share tips that students can take to keep themselves and fellow Buckeyes healthy. Read their message. 

  • July 29: University reminds students, faculty, staff and visitors to monitor health guidance, including community COVID levels, from the CDC. Read the Ohio State News story(link is external). 

  • May 3: Ohio State will be shifting to a voluntary testing program for the summer starting on Monday, May 9. Masks remain optional in most indoor spaces and the COVID-19 vaccine is still required for all students, faculty and staff. Read more in the Ohio State News Alert. 

"Ohio State continues to respond to changes in public health guidance. In accordance with public health guidelines, Ohio State has adjusted its mask requirements:

Ohio State continues to respond to changes in public health guidance. Ohio State’s guidance on face masks was last updated April 19, 2022.

  • Masks are optional in most settings on all Ohio State campuses, including general-purpose buildings, residence halls, dining facilities, classrooms, offices, the Ohio Union, and on public transportation. Masks are also optional outdoors. (Read guidance for individuals for specific circumstances)
  • Masks are required in clinical health care settings (including at the Wexner Medical Center), COVID-19 testing locations and child care centers.

Public events, such as those that take place at the Schottenstein Center and the Covelli Center, are mask optional, effective March 8, 2022.

Please note: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends masking in public indoor spaces for communities with “high” levels of COVID-19. Use the CDC’s COVID-19 County Check tool(link is external) to see your community’s current level.

-Safe and Healthy Buckeyes, Personal Safety Practices.

Face masks available around campus

Free face masks are available for students, faculty and staff at a variety of campus locations including: all residence halls, all recreation facilities, most university libraries and the Ohio Union information desk. Masks can be picked up during business hours and details about locations are below. Masks are also available at primary entrances of academic, administrative and research facilities on the Columbus campus.

University Libraries

Masks are available at circulation desks in the university libraries listed below. Hours can be found on the University Libraries website(link is external).

Recreation Centers

Masks are available at entrances of all recreation facilities.

Ohio Union

Masks are available at the Ohio Union(link is external) Information Desk.

Regional Campuses

Masks also are available at the testing sites at each of Ohio State’s regional campuses and at the following locations:

  • Lima: Nutrien Welcome Desk of the Perry Webb Student Life Building
  • Mansfield: Campus Recreation Center
  • Marion: Alber Student Center
  • Newark: Adena Recreation Center
  • Wooster: Student Activity Center

At-home Testing

At-home antigen test kits are available while supplies last for the campus community. This supplemental testing is optional and designed to help keep you and those around you as safe and healthy as possible. These rapid antigen test kits are self-administered.

Test kits are available at select locations on the Columbus and regional campuses.  

Ohio State students and employees using these tests should report their positive test result to the university by uploading your information and positive result to: go.osu.edu/SelfReportTest(link is external)

Newark

  • Ohio State Admissions and Advising Office, Founders Hall, first floor, room 1075, front desk
  • John L. and Christine Warner Library, Warner Center, first floor, room 169, front desk
  • Student Financial Services, Hopewell Hall, In the Gateway area, front desk

For answers to frequently asked questions and more, visit Safe and Healthy Buckeyes.

Contact Tracing, Isolation and Quarantine

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    The Ohio State University Resources

    Safe and Healthy Buckeyes

    Buckeye leaf and nut to the right hand side. Image courtesy of The Ohio State University.

     

     

     

     

    Ohio Resources [External links]

    State of Ohio in red. Image courtesy of The Ohio State University.

     

     

     

    National and International Resources [External links]

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