Last updated 6/7/2021, 4:55 p.m.

Francis Marion University continues to monitor developments related to the spread of COVID-19, its treatment, and prevention. This includes monitoring case numbers and other data in the state, in our community, and on our campus.

COVID-19 at FMU

Active Cases

Students

0

Faculty/Staff

0

Percent of Campus Community

0.00%

Current Isolation

Students Isolated On Campus: 0

Cumulative Cases - Fall Semester

Students Cases: 78

Employee Cases: 18

Fall semester count includes all cases from March 25 to Dec. 12, 2020.

 

Cumulative Cases - Spring Semester

Students Cases: 110

Employee Cases: 12

Spring Semester case count began Jan. 19, 2021 – the first day of spring classes.

COVID-19 in the Community

COVID-19 in South Carolina

R(0) (sometimes called R(t)) is used to by epidemiologists worldwide to define the potential for spread of COVID-19, and other diseases at a specific time. If Rt > 1, the virus will spread out and the disease will become an epidemic; if Rt = 1, the virus will spread locally and the disease is endemic; if Rt < 1, the virus will stop spreading and the disease will disappear eventually.

The R(0) or R(t) number is derived from a mathematical model as opposed to a specific measurement.

The effective reproduction number (R(0) or R(t)) characterizes the COVID-19 spread rate. It models the average number of secondary infectious cases produced by a primary infectious case.

The R(t) shown here, and the associated modeling, was developed by Xihong Lin’s Group in the Department of Biostatistics at the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University. More at:  http://metrics.covid19-analysis.org. The directional arrow shows directional trend  in R(t) value (increasing or decreasing) since last report.

An “n/a” indicates there were too few cases to produce and R(t).

SC-grayoutline

Protocols for Summer 2021

At its June 2021 meeting, the FMU Board of Trustees approved a resolution that put into effect the following changes to the Campus COVID Protocols, effective immediately for Summer 2021:

  • Instructional and meeting spaces will be cleaned and disinfected in a timely manner.
  • Modified social distancing will be maintained for indoor instructional, meeting, and entertainment spaces.
  • Those who have been fully vaccinated are exempt from FMU masking, testing, and quarantine requirements. Those who have not been fully vaccinated remain subject to those requirements.
  • Masks are not required outdoors.
  • FMU faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 Response Office

FMU’s COVID-19 Response Office was created to provide members of the FMU community with information and resources related to the University’s response to the pandemic. The office will coordinate FMU’s contact tracing procedures, and monitoring.


FMU Student Health Office

FMU’s Student Health Center provides a front-line healthcare resource for the FMU community. It’s staffed Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by qualified medical practitioners who can provide immediate aid or referrals for a variety of problems. The Student Health Center is located in Room 217 on the second floor of the Smith University Center on FMU’s Main Campus. Contact the office by telephone at 843-661-1843 or by email at covidresponse@fmarion.edu.

The University Center on a sunny day.

COVID-19 Response Office

COVID-19 Response Office

Office: University Center, Suite 205
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30 am to 5 pm
Phone: 843-661-4665
Email: CovidResponse@fmarion.edu

Swampfox Alerts

Francis Marion University’s SwampFox Alerts system provides the University with a fast and efficient means for notifying the FMU community — students, faculty and staff — when campus emergencies occur. The alert system can be used 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It sends messages via text, email, social media, on campus message boards, and to University-owned computers.

Depending upon the nature of an emergency, the system may send users multiple messages, adding updated information as it becomes available. SwampFox Alerts are used for public safety emergencies and for official university information such as closings. It is only used in the case of an emergency.

Click the link below to find out more about FMU’s SwampFox Alerts system.

ARP, CRRSAA, & CARES Act Reporting and Transparency

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) direct institutions receiving funds under the Acts to submit reports describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund portion of the Acts. FMU’s reports can be accessed below.