‘Ask the Doctors’ town hall tomorrow
Two of the university’s top medical experts, Drs. Steve Lawrence, MD, and Cheri LeBlanc, MD, will answer your COVID-19 questions at a town hall tomorrow evening.
Wednesday, Jan. 27
6-6:30 p.m.
Zoom link
Topics to be addressed include the latest news on the COVID-19 vaccine, new COVID-19 variants and the latest guidance on face masks. You can submit questions in advance by sending an email to covidquestions@wustl.edu. (Please put “Town Hall Question” in the subject line.) Learn more on the Ask the WashU Doctors page on the WashU Together website.
COVID-19 vaccine eligibility
Many of you are wondering whether the university will be administering the vaccine to Danforth Campus faculty, staff and students. At this time, people working in higher education are not a specific group that is eligible to receive the vaccine under the current guidance. Anyone who may meet other criteria for receiving the vaccine (see information about priority groups on the websites for Missouri and Illinois) is encouraged to pre-register to be notified when you become eligible to make an appointment. You can do this on the BJC website and we also encourage you to pre-register through your local municipalities and the other health systems, if you have the opportunity to do so. We remain in close contact with the state, BJC and our regional health departments and will communicate directly with the university community if this changes.
For more information, see the COVID-19 vaccine FAQ page.
Pay attention to your symptoms and take immediate action
Do you have a stuffy nose? A sore throat? A new or worsening cough or headache? Even if you feel just “a little off,” even minor symptoms could be early signs of COVID-19. It is very important for everyone to pay close attention to any symptoms. Be sure to complete your daily self-screeningbefore leaving your residence hall room or coming to campus and contact the appropriate department to report symptoms, seek guidance and if necessary, get referred for a diagnostic COVID test.
Danforth Campus students (on- or off-campus, undergraduate, graduate or professional) should call Habif Health and Wellness Center at 314-935-6666 or the COVID Call Center at 314-362-5056. Danforth campus faculty and staff should call the COVID Call Center at 314-362-5056.
Learn more about symptoms of COVID-19
Stepping up, pitching in
Now, the Habif Health and Wellness Center has a professional staff of COVID-19 case investigators and contract tracers. But before they could get in place last semester, some 25 current and retired WashU staff members pitched in to help Habif track down COVID cases and make more than 1,000 calls. Their efforts helped keep the virus largely in check. In case you missed it, here’s their story.
Curbside to go
Getting a bit bored with the same old takeout options? Try Whittemore House. This semester, Curbside Lunch will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. for both members and nonmembers. The focus will be on smaller, themed menus, starting this month with a Greek menu featuring hummus, salad and gyros to go. To place an order, call 314-935-5209, or email customerservice@whittemorehouse.org. More information on upcoming member-only specials, such as virtual wine dinners and a Valentine’s Day take-home meal, is available at the Whittemore House website.
‘Lunch Time in Hard Days’
International scholar Haocheng Qin won the grand prize in a recent contest of the Office of International Students and Scholars. His photo, titled “Lunch Time in Hard Days,” depicts one subtle reminder of how a simple face mask has become part of daily life for all of us. To see more photos of life on the Danforth Campus in the time of COVID-19, visit the Record’s weekly feature, “The View From Here.”