Texas Tech issues COVID-19, Monkeypox, flu precautions ahead of fall semester

Mateo Rosiles, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·2 min read
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The Office for Emergency Management at Texas Tech in coordination with the Lubbock Health Department on Thursday issued a memo containing health guidelines to the campus community ahead of the start of the fall semester.

This comes at a time that the COVID-19 cases in Lubbock continue to increase and the second case of the Monkeypox virus was confirmed.

More: Texas Tech using some COVID-19 protocols to counter Monkeypox threat

According to the memo, Tech is monitoring the COVID-19 Omicron BA.5 subvariant and encourages the community to get vaccinated to help mitigate the spread.

With move-in happening this weekend, Tech has opted for a staggered move-in process and will have wellness stations offer masks, disinfectant and hand sanitizer.

This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.
This image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland.

Tech also has been offering on-campus testing starting Aug. 11 from noon to 4:30 p.m. in room 175 in the Philosophy and English building and will continue throughout the move-in weekend, and Monday through Friday and Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Testing is free with valid insurance and no appointments are needed.

More testing opportunities can be found on the City of Lubbock Health Department's website, at Walgreens and CVS Health and other local pharmacies.

If a student tests positive, they are asked to report the case on the Texas Tech's COVID-19 website.

Tech is also partnering with United Pharmacy to offer vaccines from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 13, 15, 17 and 22 in room 150 in Holden Hall.

Related: As monkeypox spreads, health experts urge Texas universities to prepare for outbreaks

The university also issued guidelines against Monkeypox, saying it can be transmitted though direct contact with infected rashes and bodily fluids, prolonged exposure to respiratory secretion and face to face contact or intimated physical contact. The virus can also be contracted by touching objects used by an infected person or being bitten by an infected animal.

The university asks those who might be infected or have been in close contact with an infected person to contact Student Health Services at 806-743-2848.

The university also asks students who have tested positive to return to their permanent residence for the duration of the infection. If unable to, students are asked to contact University Student Housing for other arrangements.

Even though the two predominate viruses right now are COVID-19 and Monkeypox, the university is taking proactive measures ahead of this upcoming flu season.

According to the memo, Tech is preparing for an active and early flu season and ask students receive the flu vaccine and follow good hygiene practices.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech issues COVID-19, Monkeypox, flu precautions before semester