Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Editor's note: An earlier version of this message contained an incorrect figure for total student cases. This version contains the correct figure.

Reminder: UI to host COVID-19 vaccine clinic for students today and Thursday

The University of Iowa is hosting a vaccination clinic for UI students today, April 21, and Thursday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in the main lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU).

There are still slots available. You can schedule your appointment by signing in to MyUI using your HawkID.

Consider your exam schedule

Please note that you will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which requires two doses, three weeks apart. Student Health will hold a second vaccination clinic at the IMU on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14, to provide the second dose and will assist you with scheduling your follow-up appointment immediately after you receive your first dose.

It is important to consider your class and final exam schedule when making these appointments. If you can’t come during finals week, Student Health will have appointments available in the Westlawn Building on Newton Road during the following week (May 16–21). The vaccine will be provided free of charge.

Reminder: UI vaccine incentive program

The university is offering a one-time $10 Iowa City Downtown District gift card, to students who have been vaccinated for COVID-19.

You must present your completed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccination card and Iowa One Card (student ID) at the Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) Welcome Center to obtain a gift card. You do not need to be vaccinated through the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics or Student Health in order to be eligible for this program. Any valid vaccination card will be accepted.

The IMU Welcome Center is located on the first floor of the IMU and is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Students who are not eligible for a vaccine due to medical condition or religion also are eligible to receive a gift card. Stop by the Office of the Dean of Students, 135 Iowa Memorial Union, to obtain an exception.

Mental health resources: Upcoming support space for students

Coping in the time of COVID-19 continues to be an uncharted, life-changing task for everyone, and it can make caring for your own mental health and the mental health of those around you a challenge.

Join University Counseling Service (UCS) and Student Disability Services (SDS) in an open space to discuss self-care, burnout, and Zoom fatigue. The discussion, which will focus on unplugging from devices and developing a daily self-care routine, will take place during the following dates and times at this Zoom link.

  • Noon, Thursday, April 22
  • 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 27

To access the presentations and subsequent recordings, visit mentalhealth.uiowa.edu/presentation-series. For more information about mental health resources, see mentalhealth.uiowa.edu.

For counseling and support, the Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling at no cost for UI employees and their families; or University Counseling Service offers confidential counseling and support for students. Participate in Kognito Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Training.

There are also opportunities to engage in conversation around the verdict of Derek Chauvin. Students are invited to drop in at any time during the scheduled time. This is not a space to debate, but rather to process and reflect.

These events are a collaboration between the Center for Diversity & Enrichment, the Office of Multicultural & International Student Support & Engagement, and University Counseling Service.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Cassie Walizer in advance at 319-335-3555.

Campus operations

The university continues to monitor self-reported COVID-19 testing data on campus, while also tracking state, region, and national COVID-19 infection rates.

Johnson County seven-day rolling average

University of Iowa self-reported COVID-19 testing

These data reflect new cases since April 19, 2021.

The University of Iowa has published an updated snapshot of self-reported positive COVID-19 tests from faculty, staff, and students.

Number of self-reported cases of COVID-19

Students

  • New cases: 11
  • Total cases: 3,157

Employees

  • New cases: 3
  • Total cases: 486

These numbers reflect only self-reported positive or presumed positive COVID-19 tests from UI faculty, staff, and students on the academic campus since Aug. 18, 2020. These data will not match data reported by UI Hospitals & Clinics or by the Iowa Department of Public Health for several reasons, including different testing time intervals and geographic scope. Students who also are employees of the university are only reported in the student number to avoid double counting. The UI has more than 30,000 students and nearly 30,000 employees. Many employees continue to work remotely but have self-reported to authorize sick leave.

Number of residence hall students in quarantine: 0*

Number of residence hall students in self-isolation: 1**

*Quarantine: Quarantine is used to keep someone who might have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others.

**Self-isolation: Isolation is used to separate people infected.