Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Last Update: 10/12/2021 2:35 p.m.

Northwestern Health Sciences University is committed to our community’s health and safety, maintaining student’s academic progress, and minimizing disruptions as much as possible. We track MN’s COVID-19 Response and use its resources for businesses and organizations and guidance for higher education in our decision-making to keep our campus safe and open. Please review the NWHSU Preparedness Plan for specific information.

Campus Safety Measures

We continue to follow CDC and MN Department of Health guidelines and have created an NWHSU COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. Any person who enters our campus building is required to wear an appropriate face covering while in any common hallways or spaces. The face-covering can be removed while in a private workspace.

Every person in our campus building is required to practice social distancing and wash their hands frequently. Everyone on campus must check their temperatures prior to coming to campus. If it is 100.4° F or higher, they must not come to campus.

Slow the spread and protect yourself and others by

    • Social distancing
    • Wearing a mask indoors and outdoors when you cannot keep six feet away from others
    • Washing your hands
    • Following guidance on staying home (quarantine) if you were exposed to someone who has COVID-19 (see Close Contacts and Tracing)
    • Staying home if you are sick
    • Covering your cough
    • Delaying travel if you are not fully vaccinated; do not travel if you are sick or have tested positive for COVID-19, even if you are vaccinated
    • Laying low and getting tested if you must travel; see this travel guidance for more information.

NWHSU COVID-19 Transmissions and Exposures 

Campus Information and Resources

External Resources 

COVID-19 Transmission Data for NWHSU Community

New positive cases among our campus community are increasing. Students and employees: Please continue to report your exposures and/or positive test results to the Registrar and or VP of Human Resources, respectively, so that you can get the guidance you need to keep you and your community as safe as possible. PPE masks, regardless of vaccination status, are required in all public indoor spaces on campus except momentarily while eating or drinking. Please continue to practice social distancing, hand washing, and staying home if you’re sick.

Per MN Stay Safe guidance, we are publishing the number of COVID-19 positive cases within the NWHSU community, specifically our students, faculty, and staff. For more information on the risk status, thresholds, and trends for indicators on our campus public health, please see the COVID-19 Indicators Dashboard.

These results and the dashboard are updated every Tuesday afternoon. Please take care!

Total cumulative cases​
Total cases within 14-day period​
109
15

 

Reporting a Positive COVID-19 Test

NWHSU students, faculty, and staff should report exposures, symptoms, and positive test results to the Registrar or Vice President of Human Resources so they can guide you and manage our campus community well.

  • Students: Susan Neppl, Registrar, sneppl@nwhealth.edu
  • Staff and Faculty: Mary Gale, Vice President of Human Resources

These notifications will help us monitor the situation on campus and determine what additional precautions need to be taken.

Campus Contact Tracing

If we have a positive COVID-19 case, we will determine when the person was on campus and who may have had close contact with them. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes, not wearing a mask or wearing a cloth mask, having direct face-to-face contact, or being coughed or sneezed on by the ill person.

People on the close contact list will be notified about their exposure and guided on the next steps.

Campus Information and Resources

Fall 2021 Class Delivery

Classes will be delivered in a range of formats including on-campus, hybrid with a mix of online and on-campus, online synchronous, and online asynchronous. Course schedules indicate the delivery model.

Clinics Hours and Operation

NWHSU clinics and Herbal Dispensary are all open for business. Please see their web pages for their hours and curbside pick-up information:

Our Radiological Consulting Services are also still available for provider radiology needs.

Campus Store

The Campus Store is open to the public, students, staff, and faculty for in-person shopping
Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Curbside pickup: Monday through Friday,  9:00 a.m. – noon.
When you arrive, come to door #2 on 84th Street. Call the store from your car and let them know you have arrived. Your order will be delivered to your car.

Phone, web, or email orders:
To place an order select one of the following options:

You’ll be contacted to arrange for pre-payment. Please allow one business day for your order to be prepared. Orders may be shipped as well.

Resources for Students

We are committed to supporting each student’s progress toward their degree or credential as well as protecting the safety of all.

If students need resources or assistance during this time, please visit our Student Affairs webpage for information about low-cost internet access and more.

Any students suffering from food insecurity should request assistance from our Student Emergency Food Fund.

If you would like to support the students in our community by donating to our Student Emergency Food Fund, please visit the donation page.

We know anxiety can arise in uncertain situations like this. The Coronavirus causes concern for the health of yourself, family members, friends, and others. If students need support, please contact the Student Affairs office for counseling resources; and any member of our community experiencing anxiety can connect directly to people who can help.

External Resources

COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

As of March 30, all Minnesotans age 16 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. There is a high demand for these vaccines and opportunities are arising and changing rapidly. We have provided below several resources that can help you find an available vaccination appointment.

NWHSU is providing this information as a resource for those who want it; your participation in the vaccination effort is voluntary and remains your personal decision.

COVID-19 Testing

Semi-permanent testing locations and community testing events:
COVID-19 testing is available at no cost at all Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) community testing sites in partnership with communities. These testing sites offer nasal and saliva testing with results available in 24-48 hours. More information can be found at the Minnesota Department of Health website here.

Mail Order Program:
Minnesota will provide a Vault saliva test at no cost directly to students with a Minnesota address. Currently, this program is offered to Minnesota residents of selected counties, but it will be expanded state-wide soon and students with Minnesota addresses will not be denied a test. More information can be found here.

Where can I find additional information?

NWHSU faculty leadership released a formal statement speaking out against COVID-19 bigotry toward Asian-Americans. The press release includes additional information on the prevention of the spreading of bigotry and misinformation.