Travel Preparations and COVID-19, Flu Shot Clinics, Virginia Film Festival

To
Parents of Undergrads
From
Robyn S. Hadley, Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer

Dear UVA Families:

I hope you are enjoying the fall and that many of you will be on the Grounds this weekend for Family Weekend. Be sure to check the Family Weekend schedule for the most up-to-date information. I’m writing to share a few updates for you and your student(s):

Travel Preparations
As you probably realize, it’s not too early for you and your student to think about travel around the upcoming holidays: Thanksgiving (Nov. 24-28) and Winter Break (officially begins Dec. 18). Below is a message from Dean Julie Caruccio sent to students earlier today. Please make sure your student plans ahead for travel and testing, following the important guidance below. 

Flu Shot Clinic
We also recommend that all students get a flu shot. Our new Student Health and Wellness Pharmacy is offering flu shot clinics on several dates between now and early November. Details are below.

The Virginia Film Festival: Oct. 27-31
Another topic, not mentioned in the below email but shared in other ways with students, is the upcoming Virginia Film Festival . The festival features more than 80 films in five days on Grounds and in the Charlottesville community, and students can get a free ticket for most of the films through the UVA Art$ Program. Encourage your student to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to enjoy the arts and enjoy some downtime on their own or with friends.

Sincerely,

Robyn S. Hadley
Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer


Dear Students:

Advance planning will be important this year if you are interested in obtaining a COVID-19 test before leaving for the Thanksgiving or Winter Break. Please make note of the below guidance. More detailed information is available in the Preparing for Travel infographic.

Additionally, we encourage you to get a flu shot this year to protect yourself, friends, classmates, and family members from becoming ill. It takes about two weeks after receiving the flu vaccine to get the full immunity benefit, so aim to get your shot as soon as possible. Student Health and Wellness Pharmacy is offering walk-in appointments on certain days between now and early November. For more information, see below and check the SHW Flu Shots webpage.

TRAVEL PREPARATIONS AND COVID-19

Meeting Requirements for Air Travel

  • Plan ahead. Check your airline’s specific requirements since carriers vary in terms of type of test required and timing.
  • UVA BeSafe is unable to offer travel testing outside of the normal saliva testing. Test results for travel are NOT guaranteed.
  • Community resources for possible travel testing include:
    • UVA Riverside: Asymptomatic testing is available Monday-Friday, and appointments can be scheduled up to a week ahead.
    • Commercial providers, such as CVS and Walgreens, may offer a feasible option for antibody or antigen tests. To find testing sites, go to the VDH COVID-19 testing locations webpage.
  • Be prepared for other requests, such as a letter of recovery or proof of vaccination. See the infographic for more details.

Proactive Testing Prior to Being with Family or Friends
If you are traveling and not flying, but still want to ensure a negative test before gathering with friends or family, BeSafe is a great option to use. Keep in mind:

  • All BeSafe sites will close Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 4:30 p.m.
  • All samples submitted on Nov. 23 will be processed by Nov. 24.
  • Emmet-Ivy Garage site will reopen Monday, Nov. 29, at 8 a.m.
  • All testing will be at Emmet-Ivy Garage from Nov. 29 until the start of the spring semester (no Scott Stadium collection).
  • More details.

If You Receive a Positive Test Result Outside UVA
As a reminder, if you are traveling and obtain a positive COVID-19 test result from outside UVA systems, please upload the positive test result to HealthyHoos AND schedule a "COVID Questions" appointment online by using the HealthyHoos patient portal or call Student Health & Wellness at 434-924-5362. Please do not upload a positive test result to HealthyHoos without also scheduling a “COVID Questions” appointment.

Airport Transportation Available for Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks

Student Council’s Airbus program will be offering Thanksgiving and Winter Break bus service from UVA to Washington Dulles International Airport (and potentially to Richmond Airport, depending on demand). The Thanksgiving service will run on Wednesday, Nov. 24, while the Winter Break service will tentatively run on Sunday and Friday, Dec. 12 and 17. All three bus services are expected to leave at 7:30 a.m. from the UVA Grounds. The tickets are $10 per person. Watch for more information coming soon from Student Council.

Flu Shot Clinics at the Student Health and Wellness (SHW) Pharmacy

Get your flu shot at the SHW Pharmacy, on the first floor in the new SHW building at 550 Brandon Ave! Walk-ins are welcome on Oct. 26, 27, and Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Be sure to bring your insurance information – flu shots are usually $0 with insurance. Without insurance, the cost is $20. Wear short sleeves or layers, and if you are feeling sick, stay home and choose a different day to get vaccinated. Visit the SHW Flu Shots webpage to learn about additional options for getting the flu shot.

Thank you for taking steps now to prepare for travel and to stay healthy in coming months.

Sincerely,

Julie I. Caruccio
Interim Dean of Students